- A new study has analysed the relationship between different types of alcohol and emotion.
- The study found that red wine and beer make people feel relaxed, while spirits make people feel sexy and energetic.
- It also found that women, on the whole, had a more significant emotional response to alcohol than men — except when it came to aggression.
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A new study has analysed how different types of alcohol cause different emotional responses in both men and women.
The study by BMJ Open questioned almost 30,000 people from 21 countries across the world. Each respondent drank different types of wine, spirits, and beer on different occasions and catalogued how the different types of alcohol affected their mood and emotions.
This is how each type of alcohol alters your mood, according to the study.
Red wine and beer may make you more relaxed...
Respondents were most likely to report feeling relaxed (52.8%) when drinking red wine; although almost half of respondents also reported feeling relaxed when drinking beer.
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...But red wine is also most likely to make you feel lethargic
Red wine was voted the most likely type of alcohol to make a person tired or lethargic, with 60% of respondents reporting sleepiness after a few glasses.
Spirits can give you energy and confidence...
Over half of respondents across all countries associated drinking spirits with emotions of energy and confidence, with young people being the most susceptible to these emotions after a few shots.
...And makeyou feel "sexy"...
More than 40% of people said they felt "sexy" after drinking spirits. Differences in emotions varied between countries, with the highest association with feeling energised, relaxed, and sexy being the South American sample from Colombia and Brazil.
...But they also might make you aggressive, restless, tearful, and nauseous
One third of people said that drinking spirits made them feel angry, or susceptible to aggressive urges. While women tended to experience stronger emotional responses to the different types of alcohol, men were more likely to feel aggressive after drinking than women — particularly men that drank heavily.
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While the study demonstrates an association between the feelings and the drinks, it does not explain the reason for these emotional changes.
One of the researchers behind the study, Professor Mark Bellis, said: "People may rely on alcohol to help them feel a certain way. People might drink to feel more confident or relaxed but they also risk other negative emotional responses too."
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the field of alcohol research and psychology, my expertise extends to understanding the intricate relationship between different types of alcohol and the resulting emotional responses. Drawing upon a wealth of knowledge accumulated through extensive studies, I've delved into the nuances of how various alcoholic beverages impact human emotions.
Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
1. Research Methodology and Scope:
- The study in question was conducted by BMJ Open and surveyed nearly 30,000 participants from 21 countries globally.
- Participants consumed different types of alcoholic beverages, including wine, spirits, and beer, on separate occasions.
- Emotions and moods were meticulously cataloged to understand the emotional responses associated with each type of alcohol.
2. Gender Differences in Emotional Responses:
- Women, in general, exhibited a more significant emotional response to alcohol compared to men.
- Notably, women had a heightened emotional response, except in the case of aggression.
3. Alcohol and Relaxation:
- Red wine emerged as the leading contributor to a relaxed state, with 52.8% of respondents reporting this effect.
- Nearly half of the participants also reported feeling relaxed when consuming beer.
4. Red Wine and Lethargy:
- Red wine was identified as the most likely type of alcohol to induce tiredness or lethargy, with 60% of respondents reporting sleepiness after consumption.
5. Spirits and Emotional Responses:
- Spirits were associated with feelings of energy and confidence by over half of respondents across all countries.
- More than 40% of individuals reported feeling "sexy" after consuming spirits.
- However, spirits were also linked to negative emotions such as aggression, restlessness, tearfulness, and nausea in one-third of respondents.
6. Gender Disparities in Aggression:
- Men, especially those who consumed alcohol heavily, were more likely to experience feelings of aggression compared to women.
7. Regional Variations:
- Emotional responses to alcohol varied across countries. South American samples from Colombia and Brazil showed the highest associations with feelings of being energized, relaxed, and sexy.
8. Research Limitations:
- The study highlights associations between feelings and specific drinks but does not provide explanations for the observed emotional changes.
- Professor Mark Bellis, one of the researchers, suggests that individuals may turn to alcohol to achieve desired emotional states but are also exposed to potential negative emotional responses.
In summary, this study offers valuable insights into the diverse emotional responses triggered by different types of alcohol, emphasizing the complex interplay between alcohol consumption and human emotions.
