Psychophysiological reactivity to alcohol advertising in light and moderate social drinkers

Addict Behav. 1998 Mar-Apr;23(2):267-74. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(97)00038-5.

Abstract

Psychophysiological responses to alcohol and nonalcohol advertising slides were compared in light and moderate social drinkers. Each slide presentation was interspersed with a rest period. Before viewing the slides, participants completed a questionnaire to estimate their quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption. Participants were divided into two groups using a median split of alcohol consumption scores. Light social drinkers showed a significant decrease in heart rate response to both alcohol-related and nonalcohol advertisements. Moderate social drinkers showed a significant increase in skin conductance to both alcohol-related and nonalcohol advertisements. The findings of this study have implications for understanding both the influence of alcohol advertisements on behavior and the psychophysiological correlates of cue reactivity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Advertising*
  • Alcohol Drinking / physiopathology
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cues*
  • Female
  • Galvanic Skin Response / physiology*
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male