Sex differences in associations between delay discounting and expectancies for alcohol analgesia.

Self-medication of pain with alcohol is prevalent, and expectancies for alcohol analgesia (EAA) likely influence pain relief and alcohol consumption. Hazardous alcohol use has been associated with greater delay discounting rates; however, little is known about the relationship between delay discounting and EAA. Therefore, the present study examined sex differences in associations between delay discounting and EAA. Healthy drinkers without chronic pain (N = 53) completed measures of EAA, alcohol use, and alcohol outcome expectancies. A five-trial adjusting-delay discounting task (DDT) for monetary outcomes was also administered. Regression analyses revealed that sex moderated the relationship between delay discounting and EAA. Steeper delay discounting rates were associated with weaker EAA among men when adjusting for average alcohol consumption. Among women, nonsignificant associations between delay discounting rates and EAA were observed. These findings provide initial evidence of sex differences in associations between delay discounting and EAA. The directionality of these associations was unexpected and may have implications for patterns of self-medication with alcohol. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).