Internalized Stress in Relation to Alcohol Consumption

Summary

The proposed study uses an experimental design to establish causal support for the role of internalized stress, pertaining to uncertainty with regard to one's sexual orientation, in contributing to heavy drinking behavior. Following exposure to internalized sexual stigma, physiological and psychological stress responses are expected to increase alcohol consumption in adults who are uncertain about their sexual orientation, especially among females, and following consumption, the physiological effects of ethanol and beliefs about the effects of alcohol are expected to alter relations between exposure to sexual stigma and the alleviation of psychological distress. Showing that physiological stress responses, whether driven by the pharmacological effects of ethanol or expectancies regarding its effects, can account for known alcohol-use disparities, particularly in bisexual/bi+ communities, would contribute a great deal to knowledge on the biology of addiction and inform subsequent interventions that seek to regulate stress reactivity.

Conditions

• Stress, Physiological
• Ethanol Intoxication
• Distress, Emotional

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Relevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Relevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that catalyzes an internalized stress response in the presence of a relevant social identity.

DRUG

Ethanol

The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol. None of the control (placebo) drinks will contain ethanol.

BEHAVIORAL

Placebo Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Placebo TSST is an established behavioral intervention that does not prompt significant stress responses.

BEHAVIORAL

Placebo Beverage

Placebo drinks will not contain ethanol; Drinks given to participants in the placebo beverage condition will contain a mixer that does not contain ethanol.

BEHAVIORAL

Irrelevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Irrelevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that functions as an alternative comparative condition, given no internalized stress response is expected in the presence of an irrelevant social identity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Texas Tech University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

29 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-12

Primary Completion

2025-02-28

Completion

2025-02-28

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations