Sexual Orientation–Related Differences in Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among US Adults Aged 20 to 59 Years: 2003–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Abstract

Objectives We investigated sexual orientation–related differences in tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Methods The 2003–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys assessed 11 744 individuals aged 20 to 59 years for sexual orientation, tobacco use, and SHS exposure (cotinine levels ≥ 0.05 ng/mL in a nonsmoker). We used multivariate methods to compare tobacco use prevalence and SHS exposure among gay or lesbian (n = 180), bisexual (n = 273), homosexually experienced (n = 388), and exclusively heterosexual (n = 10 903) individuals, with adjustment for demographic confounding. Results Lesbian and bisexual women evidenced higher rates of tobacco use than heterosexual women. Among nonsmokers, SHS exposure was more prevalent among lesbian and homosexually experienced women than among heterosexual women. Nonsmoking lesbians reported greater workplace exposure and bisexual women greater household exposure than heterosexual women did. Identical comparisons among men were not significant except for lower workplace exposure among nonsmoking gay men than among heterosexual men. Conclusions Nonsmoking sexual-minority women are more likely to be exposed to SHS than nonsmoking heterosexual women. Public health efforts to reduce SHS exposure in this vulnerable population are needed.

Women and Lung Disease. Sex Differences and Global Health Disparities

“…Although some SMW identify with a lesbian or bisexual identity, other women who have sex with women participate in same-sex relationships without identifying as "lesbian" or "bisexual." Strikingly, smoking rates among SMW are dramatically and significantly higher (at least double in most cases [48][49][50][51]) than among heterosexual peers and vary between SMW subgroups (48,52,53). Nonsmoking SMW are also significantly more likely to exhibit physiological evidence of secondhand smoke exposure (48).…”

“…Strikingly, smoking rates among SMW are dramatically and significantly higher (at least double in most cases [48][49][50][51]) than among heterosexual peers and vary between SMW subgroups (48,52,53). Nonsmoking SMW are also significantly more likely to exhibit physiological evidence of secondhand smoke exposure (48). National and state-based data sets show that SMW are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with asthma (54)(55)(56)(57)(58), and preliminary work shows that smoking SMW report high rates of asthma among their or their partner's children (59).…”

Outcomes associated with anxiety and depression among men who have sex with men in Estonia

“…Growing evidence supports the notion that gay, lesbian, and transgender populations are at increased risk for a wide range of mental health problems, including links with bipolar disorder, depression, suicidality, and drug and alcohol misuse (Cochran et al, 2013;Cochran and Mays, 2000;Farmer et al, 2013;Guerim et al, 2015). The preponderance of research was conducted in the United States and other Western cultures, while research is extremely limited on MSM from Eastern European nations, specifically independent nations in Central and Eastern European region.…”

Tobacco Denormalization as a Public Health Strategy: Implications for Sexual and Gender Minorities

“…14,19 For instance, the prevalence of tobacco use for sexual and gender minorities remains alarmingly high. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Sexual and gender minority is a broad term that acknowledges the fluidity of identities and includes people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and/or queer. 33 Trend data on the prevalence of smoking among sexual and gender minorities is limited due to a failure to measure these identity categories appropriately or at all in surveys as well as participants' refusal to disclose this information.…”