Disclosure of sexual orientation and subsequent substance use and abuse among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: Critical role of disclosure reactions.

Abstract

Research on whether disclosure of sexual orientation promotes lower substance use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals has been inconsistent. One reason for this may be that disclosure results in accepting and rejecting reactions. The current report longitudinally examines whether the types of reactions to disclosure are associated with substance use and abuse among an ethnically diverse, urban sample of 156 LGB youths (ages 14 -21 years). Neither the number of disclosures nor the numbers of accepting or neutral disclosure reactions experienced were associated with substance use or abuse. However, the number of rejecting reactions to disclosure was associated with current and subsequent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use even after controlling for demographic factors, social desirability, and emotional distress. Further, high numbers of accepting reactions were found to moderate or protect youths from the negative role of rejecting reactions on alcohol use, but not other substances. This research indicates that, rather than disclosure per se, it is the number of accepting and rejecting reactions in response to disclosure that are critical to understanding substance use among LGB youths. Further, the results suggest that to be maximally effective in helping LGB youths, substance use prevention and treatment efforts should address the rejecting reactions to disclosure of sexual orientation. KeywordsAlcohol; Cigarette; Marijuana; Self-Disclosure; Rejection; Acceptance; Sexual Orientation; Sexual Identity; Longitudinal Extensive research using large representative samples has examined the potential role of sexual orientation as a risk factor for substance use and abuse among adolescents and young adults Address correspondence to Margaret Rosario, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, The City University of New York -City College and Graduate Center, NAC Building 7-120, Convent Avenue and 138 th Street, New York, NY 10031; mrosario@gc.cuny.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: The following manuscript is the final accepted manuscript. It has not been subjected to the final copyediting, fact-checking, and proofreading required for formal publication. It is not the definitive, publisher-authenticated version. The American Psychological Association and its Council of Editors disclaim any responsibility or liabilities for errors or omissions of this manuscript version, any version derived from this manuscript by NIH, or other third parties. The published version is available at www.apa.org/journals/adb NIH Public Access e.g., Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Eisenberg & Wechsler, 2003a;Russell, Driscoll, & Truong, 2002). A recent meta-analysis of this research concludes that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths are significantly more likely to report alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use than are heterosexual youths (Marshal et al., 2008). The meta-analysis also finds that the higher risk among LGB youths occurs among both sexes and regardless of definition of sexual orientation (e.g., self-identification as LGB...

Special Issue Introduction: New Research on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: Studying Lives in Context

“…For example, it is also notable that in studies of LGBT youth, family relationships are a backdrop that is under-examined, particularly in light of the extensive and rich literature(s) on parenting and parent-adolescent relationships. Recent work points out the dramatic undermining effects that family acceptance and rejection have on the health and well-being of LGBT youth (Rosario et al 2009;Ryan et al 2008). Negative parental reactions are often assumed in studies of LGBT youth; a new generation of research is needed to understand not only parental rejection-and acceptance-but the subtleties of family life that are distinctive in the lives of LGBT youth and that are linked to adjustment over time.…”

Associations of Discrimination and Violence With Smoking Among Emerging Adults: Differences by Gender and Sexual Orientation

“…A few risk factors have been empirically tested and significantly associated with smoking outcomes, such as internalized homophobia (Amadio & Chung, 2004), alcohol abuse and depression (McKirnan, Tolou-Shams, Turner, Dyslin, & Hope, 2006), issues involving disclosure of sexual minority status (Rosario, Schrimshaw, & Hunter, 2009), and early sexual experience (Lombardi, Silvestre, Janosky, Fisher, & Rinaldo, 2008). Socially based stressors, such as discrimination and violence victimization, are also identified risk factors salient to negative health outcomes among sexual minority men and women (Herek, Gillis, & Cogan, 1999;Mays & Cochran, 2001;Meyer, 1995).…”

Sexual orientation and smoking history: results from a community-based sample of youth in Shanghai, China

“…Other studies conducted in western countries found that bisexual (compared to heterosexual) identity is associated with smoking [22,23],which may suggest that bisexual youth in China may be less likely than those in western countries to take ''bar culture'' as a primary means of socialization and cope with the stress resulting from homophobia by smoking [24]. Several studies have found that cigarette smoking may be adopted by sexual minorities, especially younger adolescents, to cope with negatively feelings related to having a sexual orientation that is socially stigmatized [25,26]. Positive support from family and friends could reduce the magnitude of the association between smoking and distress [14].…”