Poster(s)
Alcohol hangover effects on attentional performance tasks the morning after an ordinary night's drinking
Dr Adele McKinney
University of Ulster
Gary Doherty
University of Ulster
Objectives: To examine the effects of an
alcohol-induced hangover on attention and to investigate gender differences.
Design: The study followed a repeated measures
design.
Methods: 52 students aged 18 to 30 years
participated. Half of the
participants were tested the day following a night of alcohol consumption. Attention was measured via the Eriksen
Task and Stroop Test. The study employed a naturalistic drinking setting to
facilitate the investigation of participants’ usual volume of consumption.
Results: Two-way ANOVA and
independent samples t-tests were conducted showing the control group to perform
significantly higher than the experimental group, revealing a decrease in
attention when alcohol was consumed. There were no significant gender differences regarding attention.
Conclusions: Findings suggest students who indulge in an episode of
alcohol consumption will have decreased levels of attention the next day
compared to students who abstained from alcohol. Although this study has shown effects, it is likely
expectancy effects occurred which potentially contaminated the results. Future
research is imperative to confirm these findings.
