Sexual-orientation differences in drinking patterns and use of drinking contexts among college students

Abstract

Background Evidence suggests there are important sexual-orientation differences in alcohol consumption, particularly among women. Little is known about where gay/lesbian and bisexual college students drink or differences in patterns of alcohol use between heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and bisexual students. The goal of this analysis was to examine patterns of alcohol consumption—including drinking prevalence, quantity, frequency, and contexts of use—by sexual orientation. Methods Data on sexual identity, gender, drinking behaviors, and drinking contexts were examined from repeated cross-sectional samples of undergraduate students attending 14 public California universities from 2003–2011 (n=58,903). Multivariable statistical techniques were employed to examine sexual-orientation differences stratified by gender. Results Gay males, lesbians, and bisexual females were significantly more likely to report drinking alcohol in the current semester than their same-gender heterosexual peers (relative risks ranged from 1.07 to 1.10, p-values<0.01). Among current drinkers, bisexual females consumed 7 or more drinks and lesbians consumed 10 or more drinks on significantly more days than heterosexual females. On the other hand, gay male drinkers consumed 8 or more drinks on significantly fewer days than heterosexual male drinkers. Compared to their same-gender heterosexual peers: lesbian/gay and bisexual students drank less frequently at Greek parties (incidence rate ratios [IRRs] ranged from 0.52 to 0.73, p-values<0.01); lesbians (IRR=0.84, p=0.043) and bisexual males (IRR=0.82, p=0.009) drank less frequently at off-campus parties; and gay males drank more frequently outdoors (IRR=1.63, p<0.001) and at bars/restaurants (IRR=1.21, p=0.013). Conclusions Alcohol prevention programs and future research should consider sexual-orientation differences in drinking patterns and drinking contexts.

Risk for Infertility as a Function of Sexual identity, Sexual Behavior, and Race Among Women in the United States

“…In fact, lesbian participants were the most likely to report heavy drinking, at twice the rates of bisexual and four times the rate of heterosexual women. These findings are consistent with those of other studies, including those employing random samples (Gruskin & Gordon, 2006;Coulter et al, 2016). It was also expected that women with exclusively same-sex sexual partners or both male and female sexual partners would report more heavy drinking that peers who had only male partners.…”

“…Researchers analyzing data from a large sample of college students found that, compared to their heterosexual peers, lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to be drinkers, as well as more likely to binge drink (Coulter, Marzell, Saltz, Stall, & Mair, 2016). A random sample of adult Californians also found that sexual minority women were twice as likely as heterosexual peers to RISK FOR INFERTILITY AS FUNCTION OF SEXUAL IDENTITY, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, AND RACE AMONG U.S. WOMEN 23 be heavy drinkers (Gruskin & Gordon, 2006).…”

A descriptive analysis of where and with whom lesbian versus bisexual women drink

“…Coulter et al (2016) also found that lesbian college students reported drinking more often in bars compared to bisexual women. However, they statistically compared lesbians and bisexual women to heterosexual women rather than comparing lesbians and bisexual women to each other.…”

“…Further, reliance on bars to socialize is also associated with heavier drinking among lesbians (Heffernan, 1998). In contrast, among college students there is evidence that lesbians drink less often at fraternity/sorority houses and off-campus parties compared to heterosexual women, while bisexual women drink less often at fraternity/sorority houses and bars/restaurants compared to heterosexual women (Coulter, Marzell, Saltz, Stall, & Mair, 2016). While these studies provide a foundation for understanding where SMW drink, a comprehensive understanding of drinking context is necessary to inform prevention and intervention efforts.…”

Event-Level Associations Among Drinking Motives, Alcohol Consumption, and Condomless Anal Sex in a Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

“…While previous research on drinking among YMSM has emphasized the role of drinking as a way to escape negative feelings about one’s sexual orientation, the current findings suggest that an important motivation for drinking among YMSM is to feel good and to have fun. Drinking to have fun may be particularly likely to escalate into problematic drinking in this population, given evidence that gay men drink more frequently in bars compared to heterosexual men (42, 43), sexual minorities report more tolerant substance use norms compared to heterosexuals (44), and substance use norms (e.g., perceptions of drinking as normative, tolerance of heavy drinking and illicit drug use) are associated with greater substance use among sexual minorities (45). As such, drinking to enhance pleasure may remain an important predictor of alcohol use and problems for YMSM, given the unique aspects of drinking in this population.…”