Early drinking onset moderates the effect of sexual minority stress on drinking identity and alcohol use in sexual and gender minority women.

Theoretical models, such as the minority stress model, suggest that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth may be overrepresented in the justice system. However, few studies have examined rates of SGM youth in the system, and even fewer have compared them with rates of these youth in the broader community. To obtain a more accurate estimate, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 31,258 youths and compared rates of SGM youth in the justice system with those in the community. Contrary to claims that SGM youth are overrepresented generally, this review suggests that sexual minority girls, specifically, are disproportionally involved in the justice system. Rates of involvement appeared to differ across ethnic subgroups of sexual minority youth, and evidence is inconclusive regarding the prevalence of gender minority youth in the system. Implications of these findings for researchers and justice system professionals are discussed.

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Psycho-Oncology Interventions and Programs for Sexual and Gender Minorities (DRAFT)

10.1093/med/9780190462253.003.0012 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Deborah J. Bowen ◽

Jennifer M. Jabson ◽

Steven S. Coughlin

Keyword(s):

Sexual Minority ◽

Cancer Control ◽

Minority Women ◽

Future Research ◽

Sexual Minority Women ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

Prevention Of Cancer ◽

And Gender ◽

Quaternary Prevention

This chapter discusses the literature on cancer-related interventions for sexual and gender minority women and men and identifies directions for future research and practice. The authors divide the field up into interventions that operate in each of the four areas of cancer control: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary prevention. The main interventions developed for primary prevention of cancer for sexual minority women and men involve tobacco reduction and obesity reduction. Interventions for preventing HIV infection in LGBT populations have informed more recent efforts to address cancer. A few interventions have been evaluated for secondary prevention of cancer, and a few interventions have targeted sexual minority women and men during the treatment period. We found no interventions on quaternary prevention in sexual and gender minority populations and no evaluated interventions to improve the cancer-related health of gender minority individuals. There are multiple directions for future research in this area.

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Alcohol Use Disorders among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

The Oxford Handbook of Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190067991.013.9 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 85-100

Author(s):

Phoenix R. Crane ◽

Katarina S. Swaringen ◽

Anthony M. Foster ◽

Amelia E. Talley

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Alcohol Misuse ◽

Minority Populations ◽

Stress Theory ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

Sexual and gender minority populations are at a heightened risk of developing alcohol-related problems, such as alcohol use disorder, compared to their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts. The present chapter presents recent prevalence rates of alcohol use disorder and examines how relations among sexual orientation, gender, and alcohol use are influenced by mechanisms relevant to minority stress theory, the intersectionality framework, and other social factors such as racism, sexism, homophobia, sexual victimization, and stigma. This chapter also explores available intervention and treatment initiatives for alcohol misuse in sexual and gender minority populations, suggesting empirically informed approaches to maximize the effectiveness of tailored programs.

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Minority Stress, Structural Stigma, and Physical Health Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals: Examining the Relative Strength of the Relationships

Annals of Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/abm/kaab051 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Annesa Flentje ◽

Kristen D Clark ◽

Ethan Cicero ◽

Matthew R Capriotti ◽

Micah E Lubensky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Relative Strength ◽

Sexual Minority Women ◽

Sexual Minority Men ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

Community Environments ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background Sexual and gender minority (SGM; i.e., non-heterosexual and transgender or gender-expansive, respectively) people experience physical health disparities attributed to greater exposure to minority stress (experiences of discrimination or victimization, anticipation of discrimination or victimization, concealment of SGM status, and internalization of stigma) and structural stigma. Purpose To examine which components of minority stress and structural stigma have the strongest relationships with physical health among SGM people. Methods Participants (5,299 SGM people, 1,902 gender minority individuals) were from The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality (PRIDE) Study. Dominance analyses estimated effect sizes showing how important each component of minority stress and structural stigma was to physical health outcomes. Results Among cisgender sexual minority women, transmasculine individuals, American Indian or Alaskan Native SGM individuals, Asian SGM individuals, and White SGM individuals a safe current environment for SGM people had the strongest relationship with physical health. For gender-expansive individuals and Black, African American, or African SGM individuals, the safety of the environment for SGM people in which they were raised had the strongest relationship with physical health. Among transfeminine individuals, victimization experiences had the strongest relationship with physical health. Among Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish individuals, accepting current environments had the strongest relationship with physical health. Among cisgender sexual minority men prejudice/discrimination experiences had the strongest relationship with physical health. Conclusion Safe community environments had the strongest relationships with physical health among most groups of SGM people. Increasing safety and buffering the effects of unsafe communities are important for SGM health.

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Mental Health Challenges and Needs among Sexual and Gender Minority People in Western Kenya

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031311 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1311

Author(s):

Gary W. Harper ◽

Jessica Crawford ◽

Katherine Lewis ◽

Caroline Rucah Mwochi ◽

Gabriel Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

And Gender

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in Kenya face pervasive socio-cultural and structural discrimination. Persistent stress stemming from anti-SGM stigma and prejudice may place SGM individuals at increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. This study explored experiences with violence (intimate partner violence and SGM-based violence), mental health outcomes (psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depressive symptoms), alcohol and other substance use, and prioritization of community needs among SGM adults in Western Kenya. Methods: This study was conducted by members of a collaborative research partnership between a U.S. academic institution and a Kenyan LGBTQ civil society organization (CSO). A convenience sample of 527 SGM adults (92.7% ages 18–34) was recruited from community venues to complete a cross-sectional survey either on paper or through an online secure platform. Results: For comparative analytic purposes, three sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) groups were created: (1) cisgender sexual minority women (SMW; 24.9%), (2) cisgender sexual minority men (SMM; 63.8%), and (3) gender minority individuals (GMI; 11.4%). Overall, 11.7% of participants reported clinically significant levels of psychological distress, 53.2% reported clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and 26.1% reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms. No statistically significant differences in clinical levels of these mental health concerns were detected across SOGI groups. Overall, 76.2% of participants reported ever using alcohol, 45.6% home brew, 43.5% tobacco, 39.1% marijuana, and 27.7% miraa or khat. Statistically significant SOGI group differences on potentially problematic substance use revealed that GMI participants were less likely to use alcohol and tobacco daily; and SMM participants were more likely to use marijuana daily. Lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) was reported by 42.5% of participants, and lifetime SGM-based violence (SGMV) was reported by 43.4%. GMI participants were more likely than other SOGI groups to have experienced both IPV and SGMV. Participants who experienced SGMV had significantly higher rates of clinically significant depressive and PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Despite current resilience demonstrated by SGM adults in Kenya, there is an urgent need to develop and deliver culturally appropriate mental health services for this population. Given the pervasiveness of anti-SGM violence, services should be provided using trauma-informed principles, and be sensitive to the lived experiences of SGM adults in Kenya. Community and policy levels interventions are needed to decrease SGM-based stigma and violence, increase SGM visibility and acceptance, and create safe and affirming venues for mental health care. Political prioritization of SGM mental health is needed for sustainable change.

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Associations of Relationship Experiences, Dating Violence, Sexual Harassment, and Assault With Alcohol Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211001469 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110014

Author(s):

W. J. Kiekens ◽

L. Baams ◽

J. N. Fish ◽

R. J. Watson

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Sexual Harassment ◽

Dating Violence ◽

Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽

Gender Minority ◽

Minority Adolescents ◽

Relationship Experiences ◽

Sexual And Gender Minority ◽

And Gender

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents report higher rates of dating violence victimization compared with their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Research on dating violence often neglects diversity in sexual and gender identities and is limited to experiences in relationships. Further, given that dating violence and alcohol use are comorbid, research on experiences of dating violence could provide insights into alcohol use disparities among SGM adolescents. We aimed to map patterns of relationship experiences, sexual and physical dating violence, and sexual and physical assault and explored differences in these experiences among SGM adolescents. Further, we examined how these patterns explained alcohol use. We used a U.S. non-probability national web-based survey administered to 13–17-year-old SGM adolescents ( N = 12,534). Using latent class analyses, four patterns were identified: low relationship experience, dating violence and harassment and assault (72.0%), intermediate dating experiences, sexual harassment, and assault and low levels of dating violence (13.1%), high dating experiences, dating violence, and sexual assault (8.6%), and high dating experiences, dating violence, and sexual harassment and assault (6.3%). Compared to lesbian and gay adolescents, bisexual adolescents reported more experiences with dating, dating violence, and sexual assault, whereas heterosexual adolescents reported fewer experiences with dating, dating violence, and sexual harassment and assault. Compared to cisgender boys, cisgender girls, transgender boys, and non-binary/assigned male at birth adolescents were more likely to experience dating violence inside and outside of relationship contexts. Experiences of dating, dating violence, and sexual harassment and assault were associated with both drinking frequency and heavy episodic drinking. Together, the findings emphasize the relevance of relationship experiences when studying dating violence and how dating violence and sexual harassment and assault might explain disparities in alcohol use.

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