ABSTRACT
Resumen Este trabajo analizó el efecto del estrés social -inducido experimentalmente- en jóvenes con historia familiar positiva (HFP) o negativa (HFN) de abuso de alcohol. Se midieron los niveles de cortisol en saliva, la percepción subjetiva del estado emocional y el desempeño en pruebas que miden atención hacia estímulos que señalizan al alcohol, impulsividad y conductas de riesgo. Los participantes expuestos al estrés tuvieron niveles más altos de cortisol en saliva y una percepción subjetiva de mayor malestar y de menor bienestar comparados con los controles. Los HFP reportaron un nivel significativamente menor de bienestar y de mayor malestar que sus pares HFN. No se encontraron efectos significativos de tratamiento, ni interacciones significativas entre tratamiento e historia familiar, en las pruebas de medir impulsividad, conductas riesgosas y sesgos atencionales.
Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of social stress - induced experimentally - in youth people with positive family history (PFH) or negative family history (NFH) of alcohol abuse. The measurements included the level of cortisol in saliva, the subjective perception of emotional state, and performance in tests that measure attention to stimuli that signal to alcohol, impulsivity and risk taking. Participants exposed to stress exhibited higher levels of cortisol in saliva and in the subjective perception of discomfort, and a lower level of well-being than their controls. PFH participants reported a significantly lower level of well-being and more distress than their NFH peers. There were no significant effects of treatment, and no significant interactions between treatment and FH in the scores of impulsivity, risk-taking, and attentional biases.