Non-randomised trial, 1982
Does alcohol affect anxiety differently in women versus men, and does menstrual cycle phase matter?
Yes. For women at the premenstruum, expecting alcohol increased reported anxiety, but actual alcohol appeared to reduce tension. Men showed increased physical stress responses but no reduction in negative emotions. The study suggests menstrual cycle phase may influence how women respond to alcohol.
What they did
64 moderately drinking women and men completed a balanced placebo study. Participants received either alcohol or a placebo drink that looked identical. Researchers measured self-reported negative emotions and physical stress responses (heart rate and skin conductance). Menstrual cycle phase was tracked in women not using oral contraceptives.
What they found
For women at the premenstruum, expectation of alcohol was associated with higher self-reported anxiety, whereas actual alcohol seemed related to tension reduction. Alcohol tended to increase autonomic arousal in men, with no significant changes in negative affect. Moderate intoxication increased heart rate regardless of gender. Alcohol expectancy increased skin conductance in both men and women.
What it means for you
Women's emotional response to alcohol may depend on their menstrual cycle phase, particularly at the premenstruum. What a woman expects from alcohol may matter as much as what alcohol actually does. The study was small and used a balanced placebo design, which has limitations in what it can show about real alcohol use.
64
participants
premenstruum
menstrual phase with strongest findings
moderate
level of intoxication
About the study
- Original title
- Acute alcohol intoxication, negative affect, and autonomic arousal in women and men
- Authors
- Sutker PB, Allain AN, Brantley PJ et al.
- Journal
- Addictive behaviors
- Year
- 1982
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 64
- What was tested
- Balanced placebo design with acute moderate alcohol versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(82)90020-x
Topics
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