A systematic review with meta-analysis on the relation between acute stress, alcohol consumption and cortisol levels in individuals with a personal, familial or no alcohol use disorder.

ABSTRACT: The self-medication hypothesis posits that alcohol is consumed to cope with stress, but corresponding evidence (incl. its impact on physiological stress markers) is heterogeneous. Thus, this systematic review examined the relationship between acute stress, acute alcohol consumption, and cortisol levels in individuals with varying alcohol use disorder (AUD) statuses. Following PRISMA guidelines, records from PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and PsycInfo up to 16/05/2025 were analysed. We included 53 experimental and 31 observational studies that reported alcohol consumption volume after stress versus control conditions or measured cortisol recovery (C_Min) and reactivity (C_MaxMin) following alcohol intake with or without concurrent stressor exposure. Samples were classif

SUBMITTER: Weckesser LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537857 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature