Daniel Demant1, Leanne Hides2, Katherine M White3, David J Kavanagh3. 1. School of Psychology, Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: daniel.demant@uts.edu.au. 2. School of Psychology, Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia. 3. School of Psychology, Counselling and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Research shows disproportionate levels of substance use among sexual minority young people. A range of reasons for these disparities have been suggested, including connectedness to and participation in the LGBT community. Little is known about how these constructs are related to substance use involvement in sexual minority (sub)groups or how these relationships are affected by other factors. METHODS: 1266 young sexual minority Australians completed a cross-sectional online survey. Multiple regressions were conducted to assess associations between connectedness to and participation in the LGBT community on substance use involvement, before and after controlling for other factors such as substance use motives, psychological distress, wellbeing, resilience, minority stress, and age. RESULTS/ CONCLUSION: Most participants identified as homosexual (57%, n=726) and male (54%, n=683). In the overall sample, participation in and connectedness the LGBT community were significantly associated with increased substance use involvement before (F(2,1263)=35.930, p≤0.001, R2=0.052) and after controlling for other variables (F(8,1095)=33.538, p≤0.001, R2=0.191), with meaningfully higher effect sizes for participation than for connectedness. After controlling for other variables, connectedness only remained significant for homosexuals. Effect sizes for participation were higher for females than males, and bisexuals than homosexuals. However, participation in the LGBT Community was not associated with substance use in participants identifying with a non-binary gender identity. In conclusion, substance use involvement was associated with participation in the LGBT community, but connectedness to the LGBT community only had a weak association with substance use involvement in the homosexual subgroup.
INTRODUCTION: Research shows disproportionate levels of substance use among sexual minority young people. A range of reasons for these disparities have been suggested, including connectedness to and participation in the LGBT community. Little is known about how these constructs are related to substance use involvement in sexual minority (sub)groups or how these relationships are affected by other factors. METHODS: 1266 young sexual minority Australians completed a cross-sectional online survey. Multiple regressions were conducted to assess associations between connectedness to and participation in the LGBT community on substance use involvement, before and after controlling for other factors such as substance use motives, psychological distress, wellbeing, resilience, minority stress, and age. RESULTS/ CONCLUSION: Most participants identified as homosexual (57%, n=726) and male (54%, n=683). In the overall sample, participation in and connectedness the LGBT community were significantly associated with increased substance use involvement before (F(2,1263)=35.930, p≤0.001, R2=0.052) and after controlling for other variables (F(8,1095)=33.538, p≤0.001, R2=0.191), with meaningfully higher effect sizes for participation than for connectedness. After controlling for other variables, connectedness only remained significant for homosexuals. Effect sizes for participation were higher for females than males, and bisexuals than homosexuals. However, participation in the LGBT Community was not associated with substance use in participants identifying with a non-binary gender identity. In conclusion, substance use involvement was associated with participation in the LGBT community, but connectedness to the LGBT community only had a weak association with substance use involvement in the homosexual subgroup.
Authors: Kristi E Gamarel; Kimberly M Nelson; Justin Heinze; Danielle M Chiaramonte; Robin L Miller Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2019-05-16 Impact factor: 2.164
Authors: Marta Evelia Aparicio-García; Eva María Díaz-Ramiro; Susana Rubio-Valdehita; María Inmaculada López-Núñez; Isidro García-Nieto Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-09-28 Impact factor: 3.390