Exposure to Stigma Elicits Negative Affect and Alcohol Craving Among Young Adult Sexual Minority Heavy Drinkers. (17th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mereish, Ethan H.; Miranda, Robert
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 43:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 1263
• Page End: 1272
• Publication Date: 2019-05-17
• Subjects: Stigma -- Sexual Minorities -- Alcohol Craving -- Alcohol Cues; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.14055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Sexual orientation disparities in alcohol use disorder (AUD) are thought to be explained by stigma specific to sexual minorities. Despite the importance of negative affect and craving in addiction, research has yet to test the effects of stigma on affect and alcohol craving among sexual minorities. This laboratory study examined the effects of 3 novel mood inductions (stigma, general unpleasant, and neutral) on affect and alcohol craving among heavy‐drinking sexual minority young adults. We also paired these mood inductions with an established alcohol cue reactivity paradigm to explore the effects of stigma on cue‐elicited craving. Methods: Sexual minority participants ( N = 20; 55% female), aged 18 to 27 years ( M = 21.80, standard deviation = 2.65), were recruited from the community. Participants completed 3 mood induction and cue reactivity trials counterbalanced over 3 visits on different days: stigma, general unpleasant, and neutral mood inductions. A structured interview assessed criteria for DSM‐5 AUD, and self‐report measures assessed lifetime adverse experiences. Results: Most participants met criteria for past‐year AUD (75%). Exposure to stigma produced more negative affect and greater alcohol craving than the neutral and general unpleasant mood induction conditions. The general unpleasant mood induction did not predict greater alcohol craving than the neutral mood induction. Stigma enhanced alcohol cue reactivity effects, as measured with a single‐item craving measure, compared to the general unpleasant mood condition, and this effect remained significant while controlling for covariates. Conclusions: Findings are the first to demonstrate how stigma uniquely predicts negative affect and alcohol craving among sexual minorities. This study suggests that being exposed to stigma, specifically heterosexism, elicits negative mood and alcohol craving among sexual minority young adults who are heavy drinkers. Abstract : This study developed a novel laboratory paradigm to investigate the effects of vicarious sexual stigma exposure on negative affect and alcohol craving among heavy drinking sexual minority adults. Participants completed 3 mood induction and cue reactivity trials counterbalanced over 3 visits on different days: stigma, general unpleasant, and neutral mood inductions. The stigma condition induced greater negative affect and alcohol craving than the general unpleasant and neutral conditions. Preliminary evidence also demonstrated that stigma enhanced alcohol cue reactivity effects.