A Preliminary Experimental Study of Minority Stress, Startle Reactivity, and Alcohol Use among Heavy Drinking Sexual Minority Young Adults

Bibliographic Data

ID21645600
AuthorsEthan H Mereish (0000-0003-4655-0836, Department of Health Studies, American University, Washington, DC, USA, corresponding author), Robert Miranda (0000-0001-6418-6148, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies (CAAS), Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA)
Year2021
Volume56
Issue1
Pages162-168
Publication date2021-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2020.1846197
PMID33222602
OpenAlexW3108947431
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited33

Background: Sexual minorities (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual) are at increased risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to heterosexuals. The minority stress model postulates that disparities in AUD stem, in part, from stress specific to sexual minorities (e.g. heterosexism). However, little research has examined psychophysiological markers of minority stress reactivity and how psychophysiological stress reactivity is associated with lifetime minority stress and alcohol use among sexual minorities. Emotion modulation of the startle response is a well-established paradigm for capturing psychophysiological stress reactivity under controlled laboratory conditions. Purpose: This preliminary study is the first to use the startle experimental paradigm to examine psychophysiological reactivity to stigma among sexual minorities. Procedures: Sexual minority participants (N = 20; 55% female), aged 18 to 27 years (M = 21.80, SD = 2.65), were recruited from the community. We compared startle reactivity in response to three types of stimuli (stigma, negative, and neutral) among heavy drinking sexual minority young adults. Although statistically underpowered, we also explored the associations between startle reactivity and self-reported drinking behaviors and lifetime minority stress. Results: Both stigma and general unpleasant stimuli produced more psychophysiological stress reactivity than neutral stimuli among sexual minorities. Psychophysiological stress reactivity was correlated with greater quantity of drinks reported on drinking days in the past month, but not greater frequency. Additionally, lifetime exposure to minority stress was associated with a blunted reactivity to stigma stimuli. Conclusions: These findings provide methodological advances and important implications for minority stress theory and alcohol use among sexual minorities

Developmental psychology · Heterosexism · Lesbian · Minority stress · Psychiatry · Sexual minority · Startle response · Stress measures · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

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