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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1239-6885

Date Available

5-11-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Michelle M. Martel

Faculty

Michael T. Bardo

Abstract

Alcohol use is increasing among women, with estimates for binge drinking having risen to levels similar to those seen in men. Despite this trend, sex differences regarding mechanisms of alcohol consumption have seldom been investigated. Our group and others have found evidence to suggest that ovarian sex hormones are associated with alcohol consumption and mechanisms that might be related to alcohol consumption, such as executive function deficits. The current study sought to extend this prior research in a larger sample with higher drinking rates and more rigorous methods, and to explore inhibitory control associations with drinking. Across the two samples analyzed, 165 female sex, naturally-cycling individuals ages 18-35 years self-reported information on their drinking habits and perceived inhibitory control each evening for a full menstrual cycle. Participants also provided saliva samples each morning to determine estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels, and urinary luteinizing hormone-detecting tests were utilized to bio-verify ovulation. Multilevel regression models were used to evaluate associations between hormone levels and alcohol drinking, as well as inhibitory control. In line with our group’s previous findings, results showed an interaction effect between E2 and P4, such that participants were more likely to drink alcohol on days when E2 concentration levels were one person-SD higher than average and P4 levels were one person-SD lower than average. On days where participants endorsed drinking, they reported consuming significantly more drinks when E2 levels were one person-SD higher than average. No associations were found between daily self-reported inhibitory control scores and hormone levels or alcohol consumption. Further investigations are necessary to replicate the current study findings and to explore their clinical utility in the prevention, assessment, and intervention of alcohol misuse.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.258

Archival?

Archival

Funding Information

This study was supported by the National Institute of Health (no: 5R01AA027990-05) in 2024.

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