Review: Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Addictions Among Sexual Minority Subgroups

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-248
Author(s):  
Ryan Ruppert ◽  
Steve Sussman ◽  
Shanna K. Kattari
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Behavioral Addictions ◽  
Addictive Behaviors ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Internet Sex ◽  
And Bisexual

The purpose of this study is to present current data on the prevalence and co-occurrence of 12 substance and behavioral addictions among adult cisgender sexual minorities (SM). We utilized MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases to systematically review the literature on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, illicit drugs, gambling, eating/food, Internet, sex, love, exercise, work, and shopping within the SM community. Peer reviewed empirical articles in English from 2000 to 2019 were included. When possible, we compared prevalence and co-occurrence statistics between four SM subgroups (stratified into lesbian women, bisexual women, gay men, and bisexual men), and used heterosexual women and men as reference groups. Studies were scant within each area of addiction with the most studies focusing on addictions acknowledged within the DSM-V (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, illicit drugs, gambling). Significantly fewer studies addressed the prevalence and co-occurrence of behavioral addictions across SM subgroups. Most studies assessing addiction among SM populations either categorize SMs into a single group or only stratify by gender. However, even with limited research, the findings from this review suggest that significant differences in addictive behaviors exist when comparing one SM subgroup to another. There is a strong need for more research that quantifies these disparities through prevalence and co-occurrence statistics.

Oversampling as a methodological strategy for the study of self-reported health among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 637-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Anderssen ◽  
Kirsti Malterud
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
And Gender

Aims: Epidemiological research on lesbian, gay and bisexual populations raises concerns regarding self-selection and group sizes. The aim of this research was to present strategies used to overcome these challenges in a national population-based web survey of self-reported sexual orientation and living conditions—exemplified with a case of daily tobacco smoking. Methods: The sample was extracted from pre-established national web panels. Utilizing an oversampling strategy, we established a sample including 315 gay men, 217 bisexual men, 789 heterosexual men, 197 lesbian women, 405 bisexual women and 979 heterosexual women. We compared daily smoking, representing three levels of differentiation of sexual orientation for each gender. Results: The aggregation of all non-heterosexuals into one group yielded a higher odds ratio (OR) for non-heterosexuals being a daily smoker. The aggregation of lesbian and bisexual women indicated higher OR between this group and heterosexual women. The full differentiation yielded no differences between groups except for bisexual compared with heterosexual women. Conclusions: The analyses demonstrated the advantage of differentiation of sexual orientation and gender, in this case bisexual women were the main source of group differences. We recommend an oversampling procedure, making it possible to avoid self-recruitment and to increase the transferability of findings.

scholarly journals Comparison of Treatment Outcomes Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Individuals Receiving a Primary Care Psychological Intervention

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine A. Rimes ◽  
Matthew Broadbent ◽  
Rachel Holden ◽  
Qazi Rahman ◽  
David Hambrook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
And Bisexual

Background: Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals experience more anxiety and depression than heterosexual people. Little is known about their comparative treatment response to psychological interventions. Aims: To compare sociodemographic/clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes across sexual orientation groups, for adults receiving primary care psychological interventions from Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in London, adjusting for possible confounders. Method: Data from 188 lesbian women, 222 bisexual women, 6637 heterosexual women, 645 gay men, 75 bisexual men and 3024 heterosexual men were analysed from pre-treatment and last treatment sessions. Males and females were analysed separately. Results: Before treatment, lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to report clinical levels of impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale) than heterosexual women; there were no significant differences in depression (PHQ-9) or anxiety (GAD-7). Bisexual men were more likely to meet depression caseness than gay men but less likely to meet anxiety caseness than gay or heterosexual men. Compared with heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual individuals showed smaller reductions in depression and impairment, controlling for age, ethnicity, employment, baseline symptoms, number of sessions and intervention type. Bisexual women experienced significantly smaller reductions in anxiety than heterosexual women and were less likely to show recovery or reliable recovery. There were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between gay, bisexual and heterosexual men. Conclusions: Reasons for poorer outcomes in lesbian and bisexual women require investigation, for example lifetime trauma or stigma/discrimination regarding gender or sexual orientation in everyday life or within therapy services.

scholarly journals Military service experiences and reasons for service separation among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in a large military cohort

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia R. Carey ◽  
Isabel G. Jacobson ◽  
Keren Lehavot ◽  
Cynthia A. LeardMann ◽  
Claire A. Kolaja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Military

Abstract Background The well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals is a topic of increasing concern within the military where significant institutional barriers, targeted aggression, and differential organizational policies such as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” have historically contributed to experiences of exclusion and discrimination. However, limited research has examined specific military and post-separation experiences among LGB service members and veterans. The goal of this study was to examine differences in military and service separation experiences by sexual orientation among a large representative sample of United States service members and veterans. Methods Survey data from the 2016 Millennium Cohort Study follow-up questionnaire were used to assess sexual orientation and multiple outcomes of interest: military experiences (morale, feelings about the military, missed workdays) and service separation experiences (reasons for separation, post-separation employment). The associations between sexual orientation (LGB versus heterosexual) and each of these outcomes were evaluated in a series of adjusted logistic regression models, stratified by sex when interactions were observed. Results Of the 99,599 participants, 3.4% identified as LGB. In adjusted models, LGB service members had significantly higher odds than heterosexual service members of feeling: unimpressed by the quality of unit leadership, unsupported by the military, and negative about the military overall. Bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual women to feel less unit camaraderie; both gay and bisexual men felt less camaraderie than heterosexual men. LGB veterans were more likely than heterosexual peers of the same sex to separate from service due to unplanned administrative reasons. Compared to heterosexual women, lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to separate from service due to dissatisfaction with promotions/pay and disability/medical reasons, while bisexual women specifically separated due to dissatisfaction with leadership and incompatibility with the military. Gay and bisexual men also reported separating due to incompatibility with the military, but only bisexual men were more likely to report separating due to disability/medical reasons compared to heterosexual men. Conclusions Less positive military- and separation-specific experiences disproportionately affected LGB service members in this study. Promoting inclusion and increasing support for LGB service members may improve satisfaction with military service and retention.

End-of-Life Preparations Among LGBT Older Canadian Adults: The Missing Conversations

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian de Vries ◽  
Gloria Gutman ◽  
Áine Humble ◽  
Jacqueline Gahagan ◽  
Line Chamberland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
And Bisexual

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) older adults are more likely than their heterosexual peers to age with limited support in stigmatizing environments often poorly served by traditional social services challenging their preparedness for end of life. Fourteen focus groups and three individual interviews were conducted in five Canadian cities with gay/bisexual men (5 groups; 40 participants), lesbian/bisexual women (5 groups; 29 participants), and transgender persons (3 interviews, 4 groups; 24 participants). Four superordinate themes were identified: (a) motivators and obstacles, (b) relationship concerns, (c) dynamics of LGBT culture and lives, and (d) institutional concerns. Several pressing issues emerged including depression and isolation (more common among gay and bisexual men), financial/class issues (lesbian and bisexual women), and uncomfortable interactions with health-care providers (transgender participants). These findings highlight the challenges and complexities in end-of-life preparation within LGBT communities.

scholarly journals Coming Out to Parents in Lesbian and Bisexual Women: The Role of Internalized Sexual Stigma and Positive LB Identity

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Baiocco ◽  
Jessica Pistella ◽  
Mara Morelli
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Sexual Stigma ◽  
Positive Identity ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Internalized Sexual Stigma

The experience of “coming out” (CO) to parents is often a crucial event in the lives of lesbian and bisexual (LB) women, associated with lower internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and higher positive LB identity. Few studies have compared the experiences of LB women in the CO process. Rather, most prior research has either: (1) not addressed bisexuality or eliminated bisexual individuals from the analysis; (2) combined bisexual women and bisexual men in the same sexual orientation group; or (3) examined bisexual participants alongside lesbian women and gay men, using a single monolithic measure. Thus, the present research aimed at investigating the role of ISS and positive LB identity in inhibiting or encouraging CO to parents in a sample of 241 lesbian women (Mage = 27.61, SD = 7.19) and 186 bisexual women (Mage = 25.23, SD = 5.81), aged 18–40 years. Most participants reported that they had already revealed their sexual orientation to their mother (69%) and their father (52%). More lesbian women had CO to both their mother and their father than had bisexual women. These lesbian women reported lower levels of ISS and higher levels of LB positive identity relative to bisexual women. On average, CO to mothers occurred at age 20 (SD = 5.54), while CO to fathers occurred at age 22 (SD = 5.63). LB women did not differ in the average age of CO to mothers or fathers, or in parental reactions to CO. Finally, ISS was found to affect the process of CO to both parents via positive identity (bootstrapping estimate = −0.26, SE = 0.08, 95% CI = −0.43, 0.11), whereas sexual orientation was not found to moderate the path from ISS to CO to both parents. The present study contributes to our understanding of the differences between LB women when developing their sexual orientation, highlighting the relevance of a positive LB identity for CO to parents. Research and clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Prevalence of STD and HIV infections among attenders of the Erasmus MC STD clinic, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, during the years 1996 to 2000

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M van der Snoek ◽  
H M Götz ◽  
P G H Mulder ◽  
R P Verkooyen ◽  
W I van der Meijden
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Intravenous Drug Use ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Chlamydial Infections

The purpose of the study was to investigate possible changes in the prevalence of STD and HIV collected at a Dutch STD clinic in the period 1996 to 2000. Age, gender, ethnic background, sexual preference, intravenous drug use and STD or HIV infection in persons attending an STD outpatient clinic were analysed and compared. The prevalence of HIV infection among the clinic visitors remained stable. The prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections increased significantly among heterosexual men and heterosexual women. Among homo- and bisexual men a significant increase was seen in chlamydial infections only. Because of the increasing prevalence of gonococcal and chlamydial infections among STD clinic visitors in Rotterdam, more attention should be paid to coordinated preventive activities, such as health education and contact tracing. Further subgroup analyses should be done in order to get more information on risk behaviour in the different groups.

The Nexus of Sexual Orientation and Gender in the Determination of Earnings

ILR Review ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Blandford
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Wage Differentials ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Unobserved Effects ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
And Gender

This analysis of 1989–96 General Social Survey data reveals how sexual orientation and gender jointly influence earnings outcomes. Gay and bisexual men experienced a 30–32% income disadvantage relative to heterosexual peers, while lesbian and bisexual women enjoyed a wage premium of 17–23%. The disparate earnings effects of sexual orientation across genders suggest that workplace discrimination may be only one factor accounting for measured wage differentials associated with sexual orientation. These findings qualify pioneering work on the subject that indicated that wage differentials were attributable largely to employer bias. A further analysis that distinguishes the separate effects of gender, marital status, and sexual orientation suggests that differentials long attributed to marital status may in part reflect previously unobserved effects of sexual orientation.

scholarly journals Sex During Menstruation: Race, Sexual Identity, and Women’s Accounts of Pleasure and Disgust

2020 ◽  
pp. 961-984
Author(s):  
Breanne Fahs
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Identity ◽  
White Women ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Male Partners ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Heterosexual Identity ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
And Bisexual

Abstract This study analyzes qualitative interviews with 40 women across a range of age, race, and sexual orientation to examine experiences with sex during menstruation. Results show that 25 women describe negative reactions, two describe neutral reactions, and 13 describe positive reactions. Negative responses involve four themes: discomfort and labor to clean ‘messes,’ overt partner discomfort, negative self-perception, and managing partner’s disgust. Positive responses cohere around physical and emotional pleasure from sex while menstruating and rebellion against anti-menstrual attitudes. Race and sexual identity differences appear: White women and bisexual or lesbian-identified women describe more positive feelings than women of color or heterosexual women. Bisexual women with male partners describe more positive reactions than heterosexual women with male partners, implying that heterosexual identity relates to negative attitudes more than heterosexual behavior. Those with positive attitudes also enjoy masturbation more than others. Additionally, interviews address sexual and racial identities’ informing body practices, partner choice affecting body affirmation, and resistance against ideas about women’s bodies as ‘disgusting.’

scholarly journals Bisexual stereotypes apply differently by body size: An assessment of bisexual prototypicality, trait application, and body size

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora Oswald ◽  
Amanda champion ◽  
Devinder Singh Khera ◽  
Cory Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Person Perception ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Fat Bodies ◽  
The Relationship

We blend person perception work with queer appearance psychology to examine the relationship between body size and bisexuality. In an online survey (N= 472, Mage= 25.15, 63.8% women), we examined the specific traits associated with a range of computer-modelled bodies identified as bisexual. We found that average body sizes were perceived as most prototypical of both bisexual men and bisexual women, skinny and fat bodies were more associated with clusters of traits which contrast with common stereotypes about bisexuality. Additionally, we found that bisexual men were associated with increased masculinity and decreased femininity relative to bisexual women, and found a general, though nonsignificant trend such that bisexual men were perceived as having heightened androcentric desire relative to women. Finally, we found evidence for the role of typicality as a mediator of perceived prejudice; less prototypical bodies tended to be perceived as experiencing greater prejudice based on body size.

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