Differences in subjective response to alcohol by gender, family history, heavy episodic drinking, and cigarette use: refining and broadening the scope of measurement

Meghan E Morean; William R Corbin; Teresa A Treat

doi:10.15288/jsad.2015.76.287

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Differences in subjective response to alcohol by gender, family history, heavy episodic drinking, and cigarette use: refining and broadening the scope of measurement

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Differences in subjective response to alcohol by gender, family history, heavy episodic drinking, and cigarette use: refining and broadening the scope of measurement

Meghan E Morean, William R Corbin and Teresa A Treat

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, Vol.76(2), pp.287-295

03/2015

DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2015.76.287

PMCID: PMC5374480

PMID: 25785804

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Abstract

Subjective response to alcohol (SR) has been shown to differ by gender, family history of alcoholism, drinking status, and cigarette smoking status. However, the requisite statistical basis for making mean-level comparisons (scalar measurement invariance; MI) has not been established for any SR measure, making it impossible to determine whether observed differences reflect true differences or measurement bias. Secondary data analyses were conducted to evaluate (a) MI of the Subjective Effects of Alcohol Scale (SEAS) by gender, family history, heavy drinking status, and cigarette smoking status using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis; and (b) the impact of these group-level variables on SR using multivariate general linear modeling. A central strength, the SEAS assesses novel high arousal negative (HIGH-; e.g., aggressive) and low arousal positive effects (LOW+; e.g., relaxed) in addition to commonly assessed high arousal positive [HIGH+; e.g., sociable] and low arousal negative effects [LOW-; e.g., woozy]). A total of 215 young adults reported on SR during a placebo-controlled alcohol administration study in a simulated bar setting (target blood alcohol concentration = .08%). Scalar MI was achieved for each group. After consuming alcohol, family history-positive individuals reported stronger HIGH- effects and female smokers reported weaker LOW+ effects than their counterparts. Heavy episodic drinkers and family history-positive females reported weaker LOW- effects than their counterparts. The SEAS permits meaningful SR comparisons within several important groups. SR differences largely were observed on the novel SEAS subscales, highlighting the importance of assessing a full range of SR.

Adult

Alcohol Drinking - blood

Alcohol Drinking - psychology

Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology

Alcoholism - epidemiology

Arousal

Ethanol - blood

Ethanol - pharmacology

Female

Humans

Male

Risk Factors

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Differences in subjective response to alcohol by gender, family history, heavy episodic drinking, and cigarette use: refining and broadening the scope of measurement
Creators: Meghan E Morean - Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio
William R Corbin - Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Teresa A Treat - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, Vol.76(2), pp.287-295
DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2015.76.287
PMID: 25785804
PMCID: PMC5374480
ISSN: 1937-1888
eISSN: 1938-4114
Grant note: 1R21AA016386 / NIAAA NIH HHS R21 AA016386 / NIAAA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984213399702771

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