Sexual minority status trajectories and alcohol abuse

Citation

Everett, Bethany (2009). Sexual minority status trajectories and alcohol abuse. American Sociological Association.

Abstract

There exists a well-established relationship between sexual minority status and substance abuse. This literature, however, is largely based on cross-sectional, clinical and community samples. Furthermore, it often fails to incorporate differential sexual identity developmental trajectories into its models. This paper addresses these limitations by using a large, longitudinal nationally representative sample to examine how both influences on the timing and pattern of sexual orientation trajectories and how these trajectories are related to self-reported tobacco, alcohol and drug use. Among females, better social attachment increases the likelihood of making a transition in our out of sexual minority status, while among males they encourage stability. I find that those female respondents who delay sexual minority status identification experience higher risk of substance abuse as adolescents as well as young adults, while those individuals who transition out of sexual minority status experience no future increased risk. Among boys, in adolescents, identifying as a sexual minority, whether they transition in or out of this status is associated with increased Substance abuse. In adulthood, however, only those who delay have increased risk. These findings highlight the importance of including the timing and pattern of sexual identity development as an important mechanism through which we can further understand substance abuse.

URL

http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/asa/asa/index.php?click_key=2#search_top

Keyword(s)

Alcohol Sexual orientation

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

American Sociological Association

Author(s)

Everett, Bethany

Year Published

2009

Reference ID

1117