A test of the appraisal-disruption model of alcohol and stress

Objective: Faced with a large body of contradictory findings, investigators have begun to propose cognitive factors that moderate the effects of alcoh ol an stress. We tested the hypothesis, stemming from the appraisal-disrupt ion model (ADM), that alcohol would be more likely to reduce stress when co nsumed prior to exposure to a stressor than when consumed following exposur e. Method: Male and female social drinkers (N = 169, 85 men) with or without a parental history of alcoholism were recruited using separate structured cl inical interviews with the participant and with a biological parent. Partic ipants drank a moderate dose of alcohol or a placebo in one of two temporal sequences. Stress was induced by asking participants to present a self-dis closing speech about their physical appearance. Stress responses were asses sed using four types of measures: self-reported anxiety, pulse rate, facial expression associated with negative affect and threat-related interference on a color-naming task. Results: Alcohol was generally more likely to attenuate stress responses wh en initial exposure to a social stressor followed drinking than when it pre ceded drinking. Conclusions: Findings were consistent with predictions stemming from the AD M. Alcohol appears to be more likely to reduce stress when initial stress a ppraisal occurs during intoxication. in contrast, when initial appraisal oc curs prior to drinking, alcohol is less effective in attenuating stress.