Acute subjective response to alcohol as a function of reward and punishment sensitivity.
Individual differences in subjective response to alcohol play a crucial role in the development of heavy drinking and related problems. In light of this, a growing focus of research has been identifying factors that contribute to differences in response. The aim of the present study was to determine whether individual differences in the subjective experience of rewarding and aversive effects of alcohol are a specific manifestation of general differences in reward and punishment sensitivity. Eighty-nine participants (M age=22.4, SD=1.9; 47.2% women) consumed a moderate dose of alcohol, i.e., peak breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)≈0.080g%, and rated their level of stimulation and sedation at seven timepoints over the BrAC curve. Sensitivity to reward and punishment were assessed by a self-report questionnaire prior to consumption. Multilevel growth models showed that post-consumption changes in stimulation ratings varied as a function of participants' level of reward and punishment sensitivity. Drinkers more sensitive to reward reported feeling more stimulated shortly after drinking and exhibited an attenuated rate of decline in stimulation over the blood alcohol curve, relative to drinkers with less strong reward sensitivity. Reward sensitivity was not related to subjective ratings of sedation, and punishment sensitivity was not related to either stimulation or sedation ratings. Findings suggest that reward sensitivity may increase risk for alcohol misuse among young adult social drinkers by increasing their subjective feelings of stimulation while drinking.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
David H
DH
Morris
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Hayley
H
Treloar
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Chia-Lin
CL
Tsai
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Kayleigh N
KN
McCarty
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Electronic address: mccarthydm@missouri.edu.
Denis M
DM
McCarthy
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol administration; Reward and punishment sensitivity; Subjective alcohol response