The nature and predictors of substance use among lesbians

Heffernan, Karen

doi:10.1016/s0306-4603(98)00003-3

Cited by 65 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This latter difference might explain some of the mixed results published on substance abuse and lesbians as noted in Heffernan (1998), especially if data were collected during particular phases of the cycle. It was, however, a preliminary finding deserving of further research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Menstrual Cycle and Sexual Behavior: Relationship to Eating, Exercise, Sleep, and Health Patterns

Brown¹,

Morrison²,

Calibuso³

et al. 2008

Women & Hlth.

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Patterns of eating, exercise, sleep and health were investigated across 180 menstrual cycles of 89 women who engaged in sex with a male (n = 45; cycles = 85), a female (n = 21; cycles = 37) or abstained from sex (n = 33; cycles = 58) from January 2005 to December 2007 (10 contributed to 2 groups). Cycles were divided into 5 phases based on their luteinizing hormone surges. Daily questionnaires and saliva for IgA and cortisol analyses were obtained. Women indicated that they ate more (p < .008) and did not sleep as well (p = .02) during their luteal and premenstrual phases. Participants were less likely to experience food cravings and did not satisfy their cravings when they were ovulatory (p < .001). Additionally, a greater proportion of lesbians skipped breakfast (p = .01) and exercised less than heterosexuals (p = .05). Sexually active women had lower cortisol and IgA levels than abstinent women (p = .02). Our study discovered, and confirmed, systematic differences in eating, sleeping and health patterns across women's menstrual cycles. Keywordslesbian; IgA; cortisol; alcohol; food cravings and abstinence Substantial research has been conducted on changes in women's sexuality across their menstrual cycles (Bullivant et al., 2004), but considerably fewer studies have been conducted on how other behaviors such as eating, exercise, sleep and health vary across the cycle. Additionally, little is known about how women who engage in sex with other women across a menstrual cycle might differ in their health patterns from women who abstain from or engage in sex with men.Fessler (2003) theorized that women ate less and exercised more at ovulation because their behavior was directed towards mating at this time. In contrast, he argued that women increased their feeding behavior during their luteal phases when implantation was likely. His review of the literature supported his theory. Independent research also found that women ate more (Bryant et al., 2006) and reported more food cravings, especially for chocolate (Michener et al., 1999) and carbohydrates (Cohen et al., 1987) during the luteal phase of their cycles, although the chocolate craving may have a cultural origin (Zellner et al., 2004). Sternfeld et al. (2002) found that moderate levels of physical activity were positively correlated with cycle length. However, most research on exercise and the menstrual cycle has been conducted on women athletes (Goodman & Warren, 2005) and is therefore difficult to generalize to other women. As far as we know, comparable research into eating and exercise has not been conducted on lesbians across their menstrual cycles. Some studies of lesbian health behavior have reported that lesbians have a higher body mass index (BMI) (Case et al., 2004) and higher frequencies of obesity (Boehmer et al., 2007) and substance abuse (Ridner et al., 2006) than heterosexuals. Other studies have found the opposite (Heffernan, 1998) or mixed results (Heffernan, 1996).Objectification and stigmatization theories have been used to explain th...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies of lesbian health behavior have reported that lesbians have a higher body mass index (BMI) (Case et al, 2004) and higher frequencies of obesity (Boehmer et al, 2007) and substance abuse (Ridner et al, 2006) than heterosexuals. Other studies have found the opposite (Heffernan, 1998) or mixed results (Heffernan, 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 85%

The Menstrual Cycle and Sexual Behavior: Relationship to Eating, Exercise, Sleep, and Health Patterns

Brown¹,

Morrison²,

Calibuso³

et al. 2008

Women & Hlth.

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“…28 Indeed, bar orientation has been found to correlate positively with frequency of marijuana and cocaine use. 28,29 Bars may also provide a means for easy access to and procurement of these substances. Although our study specifically did not recruit from bar locations, it is possible that some of the high-risk drug use women in the study were comorbid with alcohol use problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Corliss

Grella

Mays³

et al. 2006

Journal of Women's Health

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“…8,14,15 One potential factor is that younger lesbians and bisexual women may be more likely than older lesbians and bisexual women to participate in the lesbian "bar culture" as a primary means of socialization. 15 Furthermore, younger lesbians and bisexual women might be more likely than their elders to cope with the stress resulting directly from homophobia and heterosexism by smoking, drinking heavily, or both. Finally, lesbians and bisexual women may respond to all of the above stress factors with depressive and anxiety illnesses, which may correlate with smoking cigarettes and alcohol use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gruskin

Hart²,

Gordon³

et al. 2001

Am J Public Health

153

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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

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The nature and predictors of substance use among lesbians

Cited by 65 publications

References 24 publications

The Menstrual Cycle and Sexual Behavior: Relationship to Eating, Exercise, Sleep, and Health Patterns

The Menstrual Cycle and Sexual Behavior: Relationship to Eating, Exercise, Sleep, and Health Patterns

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

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

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