Distress, Emotional, Ethanol Intoxication, Stress, Physiological
Conditions
Brief 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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALRelevant 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.
DRUGEthanol
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.
BEHAVIORALPlacebo Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)
The Placebo TSST is an established behavioral intervention that does not prompt significant stress responses.
BEHAVIORALPlacebo 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.
BEHAVIORALIrrelevant 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
Texas Tech University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Masking description
Participants will not be informed of their assigned experimental condition until the debriefing occurs. Investigators will be blind to participants assigned experimental condition.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 29 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Cisgender * Age 21-29 * Sexual Identity Uncertainty (SIU; non-zero scores on a published measure). Among those with a zero level of SIU, only those who report sexual attractions and/or behaviors to both female and male partners (i.e., bisexual/bi+) will be invited to lab sessions. * Scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that indicate mild or moderate risk for potential alcohol use disorder
Exclusion criteria
* Alcohol naive persons (i.e., those without a history of alcohol use in their lifetime ). * Female persons who are currently pregnant (established with urine pregnancy test) or actively trying to get pregnant (self-report in the screening survey). * Persons who are currently in treatment or who have ever been in treatment for a substance use disorder. * Persons who have essential medications that disallow the consumption of alcohol. * Persons with scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that indicate high risk for potential alcohol use disorder; National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) standard drink equivalencies will be provided in the survey,
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beverage Consumption (in mL) | 35 minutes | Total beverage consumption in 35-minute tasting period. |
| Psychological Distress | Five repeated assessments, at 15-minute intervals, in lab session, immediately following beverage consumption, until study completion (BrAC < .02%, an average of 60 minutes following consumption). | Self-reported with the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule, measured on a 1 - 5 point scale, where higher numbers indicate more distress. |
| Salivary Stress Response | Baseline (following consent procedures) = Time 0; 2nd Collection: 25 minutes after Time 0; 3rd collection: 55 minutes after Time 0; 4th collection: 85 minutes after Time 0; 5th collection: 115 minutes after Time 0. | Amount of salivary cortisol (deciliter/mL) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Intoxication | Five repeated assessments, at 15-minute intervals, in lab session, immediately following the taste-test portion of the study (beverage consumption), until study completion. | Self-reported with single, face-valid item as well as the biphasic alcohol effects scale, rated on a 0 to 10 point scale, where higher numbers indicate a greater level of perceived intoxication. |
| Blood Pressure | Baseline measure upon arrival to the lab session. Plus, 5 repeated assessments, at 15-minute intervals, in lab session, immediately following the taste-test portion of the study (beverage consumption), until study completion. | Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be assessed at baseline and five repeated intervals, as additional indicator of stress responses. |
| Breath Alcohol Concentration | Baseline measure to ensure adherence to pre-lab session protocols. Plus, 5 repeated assessments, at 15-minute intervals, in lab session, immediately following beverage consumption, until study completion (BrAC < .02%). | Assessed with Intoximeters Alco-Sensor FST Breathalyzer |
| Heart Rate | Baseline measure upon arrival to the lab session. Plus, 5 repeated assessments, at 15-minute intervals, in lab session, immediately following the taste-test portion of the study (beverage consumption), until study completion. | Heart rate will be assessed regularly as additional indicator of stress responses, and reported in beats per minute. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed