Patterns of cigarette smoking and alcohol use among lesbians and bisexual women enrolled in a large health maintenance organization

Abstract

A B S T R A C TObjectives. This study compared the prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol use among lesbians and bisexual women with that among heterosexual women.Methods. Logistic regression models were created with data from an extensive member health survey at a large health maintenance organization. Sexual orientation was the primary predictor, and alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were outcomes.Results. Lesbians and bisexual women younger than 50 years were more likely than heterosexual women to smoke cigarettes and drink heavily. Lesbians and bisexual women aged 20 to 34 reported higher weekly alcohol consumption and less abstinence compared with heterosexual women and older lesbians and bisexual women.Conclusions. Some research has suggested that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to drink alcohol heavily and to smoke cigarettes than are heterosexual women, 1-6 whereas other research has showed no significant differences. 7-13Research published before 2000 on the prevalence of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking among lesbians and bisexual women was based primarily on small, homogeneous convenience samples recruited from the lesbian and bisexual communities, and the findings therefore have had limited generalizability. In 2000, 4 published population-based studies investigating alcohol use and smoking indicated that lesbians and bisexual women were more likely to drink heavily and smoke cigarettes than were heterosexual women. The results on levels of abstinence from drinking were mixed. 2-5

Cigarette Smoking in Same-Sex and Different-Sex Unions: The Role of Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors

“…This study advances a line of research suggesting that same-sex and different-sex cohabiters experience disadvantage that is not fully explained by SES and psychological factors; same-sex cohabiters may in fact be protected by their advantaged education status (Lau and Strohm 2011; Gruskin et al 2001; Mayer et al 2008). Same-sex cohabiters may additionally experience disadvantage on other health behaviors and facets of health—such as diet, exercise, alcohol use, and body weight (Austin et al 2013; Denney et al 2013; Liu et al 2013; U.S.…”

HIV Risk, Substance Use, and Suicidal Behaviors Among Asian American Lesbian and Bisexual Women

“…The emergence of more studies on health risk behaviors in the gay, lesbian, and bisexual population indicates a rising scholarly concern about increasing rates of risk, particularly among women in this population (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002; Gruskin, Hart, Gordon, & Ackerson, 2001; Kaestle & Waller, 2011). In a study by Bontempo and D'Augelli (2002), lesbian and bisexual females reported significantly greater risks of suicidality, drinking, and marijuana use than did heterosexual females, while in another study, young lesbian and bisexual women reported higher weekly alcohol consumption and less abstinence from drinking compared with heterosexual women (Gruskin et al, 2001). …”

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Smokers: Correlations with External Health Control, Health Expectations, and Shame-Focused Coping Strategies

“…Current alcohol use may complicate quit attempts for some smokers (J. R. Hughes, 1996) and interfere with the effectiveness of counseling interventions in smoking cessation treatment. Although some evidence exists as to the relationship between smoking and drinking in LGBT populations (Gruskin, Hart, & Ackerson, 2001;Remafedi, 2007), the degree of contribution of alcohol abuse on LGBT cigarette smoking behavior and nicotine dependence is unknown. As in the general population (Fagan et al, 2007;Hanson & Chen, 2007), evidence would suggest multiple discriminatory experiences of economic disadvantage and reduced educational opportunity impact upon cigarette smoking in LGBT populations (T. L. Hughes, Johnson, & Matthews, 2008;Institute of Medicine, 1999;McCabe, Bostwick, Hughes, West, & Boyd, 2010;Skinner, 1994;Stall et al, 1999;Tang et al, 2004).…”

“…It, too, has been documented as problematic in LGBT communities, with rates of alcohol use and abuse significantly higher than that of the general population (Cochran et al, 2004;Cochran, Keenan, Schober, & Mays, 2000;Dibble, Roberts, Robertson, & Paul, 2002;Gruskin et al, 2001;T. L. Hughes & Eliason, 2002;McKirnan & Peterson, 1989;Nawyn, Richman, Rospenda, & Hughes, 2000;Pitts, Smith, Mitchell, & Patel, 2006;Rice & Van Arsdale, 2010;Ryan et al, 2001;Stall et al, 2001;Stall & Wiley, 1988;Valanis et al, 2000).…”