Studies using both probability and nonprobability samples provide ample evidence of lesbians'vulnerability to hazardous drinking. However, very little is known about the factors that increase lesbians'risk for hazardous drinking. We propose to build on and extend our study of sexual identity and drinking, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data to model effects of cumulative stress on hazardous drinking among lesbians. Lesbians report high rates of traumatic events. Added to these acute stressors are chronic stressors unique to sexual minorities, creating cumulative stress that may be compounded in lesbians of color. Data will be collected from a large, diverse sample of 384 adult lesbians (50% racial/ethnic minority) interviewed previously in 2000 and 2004 and from a new panel (n=250) recruited by respondent-driven sampling, with oversampling of young (age 18-25), Black, and Latina lesbians. Data will be collected in computer-assisted personal interviews conducted by highly trained female interviewers.
The specific aims of the proposed study are (1) to test models of the relationships between cumulative stress and hazardous drinking in lesbians using cross-sectional data;(2) to test models of the relationships between early and later risk factors and hazardous drinking using longitudinal data from the new survey and our previous surveys (3 time points for the original sample);and (3) to compare longitudinal models of associations among early and later risk factors and hazardous drinking in our lesbian sample and in a subsample of heterosexual women from the National Study of Health and Life Experiences of Women (NSHLEW). Cross-sectional analyses will permit fuller assessment of racial/ethnic minority, age and cohort effects on hazardous drinking. We will use structural equation modeling to determine whether the accumulation of early risk factors (e.g., childhood sexual abuse) and adult risk factors (e.g., adult sexual assault, sexual- minority stressors, and racial/ethnic-minority stressors) predict hazardous drinking in lesbians, and to identify characteristics of lesbians at highest risk for hazardous drinking. Longitudinal analyses will allow us to examine changes in drinking patterns and problems over time, and to compare patterns and predictors of drinking changes in lesbians with those among heterosexual women in the NSHLEW. The proposed study, combined with the 2000 and 2004 surveys, will provide the most comprehensive data yet available on the characteristics and determinants of hazardous drinking among lesbians. Such information is critical for explicating similarities and differences across subgroups of women and for planning prevention and treatment strategies to effectively target the needs of these groups. Findings will have important scientific and public health implications for identifying groups at greatest risk for hazardous drinking and for developing culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies.

Public Health Relevance

This study will examine how the accumulation of life stressors such as childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and discrimination based on race/ethnicity or sexual orientation are related to psychological distress and hazardous drinking in adult women. Understanding how different groups of women respond to and cope with multiple life stressors will aid the development of more effective alcohol abuse prevention and intervention strategies for understudied groups of women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01AA013328-06S1
Application #
8097781
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section (RPIA)
Program Officer
Arroyo, Judith A
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2010-06-28
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$21,374
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Bostwick, Wendy B; Hughes, Tonda L; Steffen, Alana et al. (2018) Depression and Victimization in a Community Sample of Bisexual and Lesbian Women: An Intersectional Approach. Arch Sex Behav :
Matthews, Alicia K; Cho, Young Ik; Hughes, Tonda L et al. (2018) The Effects of Sexual Orientation on the Relationship Between Victimization Experiences and Smoking Status Among US Women. Nicotine Tob Res 20:332-339
Fish, Jessica N; Hughes, Tonda L; Russell, Stephen T (2018) Sexual identity differences in high-intensity binge drinking: findings from a US national sample. Addiction 113:749-758
Dworkin, Emily R; Cadigan, Jennifer; Hughes, Tonda et al. (2018) Sexual identity of drinking companions, drinking motives, and drinking behaviors among young sexual minority women: An analysis of daily data. Psychol Addict Behav 32:540-551
Fish, Jessica N; Hughes, Tonda L (2018) Alcohol Expectancies, Heavy Drinking, and Indicators of Alcohol Use Disorders in a Community-Based Sample of Lesbian and Bisexual Women. LGBT Health 5:105-111
Kidd, Jeremy D; Jackman, Kasey B; Wolff, Margaret et al. (2018) Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: A Scoping Review. Curr Addict Rep 5:158-173
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
Veldhuis, Cindy B; Talley, Amelia E; Hancock, David W et al. (2017) Alcohol Use, Age, and Self-Rated Mental and Physical Health in a Community Sample of Lesbian and Bisexual Women. LGBT Health 4:419-426
Matthews, Alicia K; Steffen, Alana; Hughes, Tonda et al. (2017) Demographic, Healthcare, and Contextual Factors Associated with Smoking Status Among Sexual Minority Women. LGBT Health 4:17-23

Showing the most recent 10 out of 46 publications