Previous studies indicate that rates of alcohol consumption, hazardous drinking, and use of tobacco and illicit drugs are higher among sexual minorities compared to heterosexual populations, and that differences in hazardous drinking are particularly pronounced among sexual minority women (SMW). At the same time, research to on moderators of risk have been hampered by reliance on sampling strategies for SMW that are limited in generalizability (e.g., predominantly volunteer samples without heterosexual comparisons) or power for more complex modeling (population-based samples with small SMW numbers). The proposed study responds to PA-12-111 (Research on the Health of LGBTI Populations) and addresses gaps identified in two recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports related to sexual minority health.
Our specific aims i nclude:
Aim 1 : Test innovative methods and techniques for expanding samples of rare populations. 1.1 Collect an oversample of sexual minority women (n ~1000), using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) with seeds from the NAS probability sample. 1.2 Conduct methodological comparisons between characteristics of the oversample and the primary NAS.
Aim 2 : Examine and compare mediators and moderators of substance use in sexual minority compared to heterosexual populations. 2.1 Use data from an oversample of SMW, supplemental survey data from SMW and matched heterosexual women from the National Alcohol Surveys to test more complex models to understand mediators (e.g., psychological distress) and moderators (e.g., social support, spirituality) of the relationship between minority sexual orientation and substance use. 2.2 Investigate the role of community level factors in the health and well-being of sexual minorities through analyses of geo- coded NAS and the oversample of SMW, including possible relationships between local attitudes and beliefs (e.g., religiosity and congregational distribution) and legal patterns (e.g., policies supporting or prohibiting same-sex marriage) and substance use outcomes among SMW.
Aim 3 : Methodological study comparing population-based to volunteer samples of SMW. Use quantitative data from the oversample (collected in Aim 1) and NAS (a national probability sample) and the CHLEW (a geographically restricted non-probability sample) to examine and compare estimates and correlates of substance use (hazardous drinking, tobacco use and illicit drug use) among SMW.

Public Health Relevance

A more nuanced understanding of factors that mediate and moderate substantially higher rates of hazardous drinking and substance use among sexual minority women is critical to the development of culturally appropriate prevention and treatment interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA036606-05
Application #
9539712
Study Section
Health Disparities and Equity Promotion Study Section (HDEP)
Program Officer
Schulden, Jeffrey D
Project Start
2014-09-15
Project End
2019-08-31
Budget Start
2018-09-01
Budget End
2019-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Public Health Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
128663390
City
Oakland
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94607
Drabble, Laurie A; Trocki, Karen F; Korcha, Rachael A et al. (2018) Comparing substance use and mental health outcomes among sexual minority and heterosexual women in probability and non-probability samples. Drug Alcohol Depend 185:285-292
Drabble, Laurie; Veldhuis, Cindy B; Riley, Barth B et al. (2018) Relationship of Religiosity and Spirituality to Hazardous Drinking, Drug Use, and Depression Among Sexual Minority Women. J Homosex 65:1734-1757
Gilbert, Paul A; Drabble, Laurie; Daniel-Ulloa, Jason et al. (2017) Alcohol Outcomes by Sexual Orientation and Race/Ethnicity: Few Findings of Higher Risk. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 78:406-414
Drabble, Laurie; Trocki, Karen F; Klinger, Jamie L (2016) Religiosity as a protective factor for hazardous drinking and drug use among sexual minority and heterosexual women: Findings from the National Alcohol Survey. Drug Alcohol Depend 161:127-34
Drabble, Laurie; Trocki, Karen F; Salcedo, Brenda et al. (2016) Conducting qualitative interviews by telephone: Lessons learned from a study of alcohol use among sexual minority and heterosexual women. Qual Soc Work 15:118-133
Gilbert, Paul A; Trocki, Karen F; Drabble, Laurie (2015) Regular Presex Drinking: The Importance of Considering Sexual Orientation. Am J Public Health 105:e1