Dimensions of binegativity differentially predict drinking to cope motivations and alcohol use severity among bisexual women.

Abstract

Research indicates that bisexual women experience greater stigmatization and discrimination compared to lesbian women. Such oppression is described as binegativity and is associated with alcohol use among bisexual women. Specifically, previous research has suggested that bisexual women may drink to cope in an effort to self-medicate from experiences of binegativity. Although substantial research has been conducted with regard to drinking behaviors among at-risk groups, research has yet to identify which specific types of binegativity may be most predictive of drinking outcomes among bisexual women. Consequently, the present study sought to examine the predictive utility of three dimensions of binegativity: (a) sexual orientation instability (e.g., the perception of bisexuality as an illegitimate sexual orientation), (b) sexual irresponsibility (e.g., the stereotype that bisexual persons are oversexualized or sexually promiscuous), and (c) interpersonal hostility (e.g., the alienation and uncomfortability with bisexual identification), on drinking to cope motivations and alcohol use severity. Participants were 225 self-identified bisexual women between the ages of 18 and 30 years (Mean = 22.77, SD = 3.45) who participated in a larger study about health behaviors among bisexual women. Multiple regressions revealed that, compared to other binegativity dimensions, sexual irresponsibility was the strongest predictor of typical alcohol use, drinking to cope motivations, and alcohol use severity. Thus, bisexual women who are stereotyped to be sexually promiscuous are at particular risk for problematic alcohol use. Prevention and intervention efforts should target stress associated with experiences of oversexualized stigmatizations, in an effort to reduce alcohol-related risk among bisexual women. Public Health SignificanceThe present study investigated the relationship between specific facets of binegativity and various drinking behaviors among a sample of bisexual women. Findings from this study suggested that sexual irresponsibility or the oversexualized stereotype of bisexual individuals, was the most predictive of drinking behaviors. Study findings highlight oversexualized stigmatizations as an independent risk factor for problematic drinking behavior and should be targeted by efforts aimed at reducing alcoholrelated risk among bisexual women.

Latent profiles of social reactions to sexual assault disclosure among bisexual women.

“…Only scores of this group were above the cutoff for hazardous or harmful drinking. SA is related to alcohol use among bisexual women (Rhew et al, 2017), and bisexual women who are stereotyped as sexually irresponsible are at particular risk for hazardous drinking (Schulz et al, 2023). Our findings suggest that SA survivors at highest risk are those who receive both negative reactions to SA disclosure and experience greater bisexual minority stress.…”

Impulsivity, sex‐related alcohol expectancies, alcohol use, and sexual risk‐taking among bisexual women

“…Binegativity has been linked to psychological distress, 7 alcohol use, 7,8 and sexual behavior 9 . Relatedly, a form of sexual minority stigmatization that bisexual women experience is being oversexualized and perceived as sexually promiscuous from both heterosexual and sexual minority communities, 10,11 which has been associated with greater alcohol use 12 . These stigmatizing types of messages could indirectly inform alcohol expectancy development among bisexual women.…”

Bisexual Discrimination, Internalized Binegativity and their Impact on Mental Health

“…Binegativity is associated with social prejudice due to the dichotomous conception of sexual orientation (Eliason, 2000;Zivony & Lobel, 2014). Stereotypical views surrounding bisexuality are associated with microaggressions, including dismissal of identity (i.e., bisexuals as promiscuous and confused; bisexuality is an illegitimate sexual orientation), mistrust (i.e., "bisexual individuals as untrustworthy partners," "bisexuals are sexually irresponsible"), and hypersexualization (Grove, 2022;Schulz et al, 2023). Consequently, bisexual people report a higher number of adverse psychosocial experiences, including daily microaggressions (Flanders, 2015) and interpersonal violence, such as childhood abuse, violence, and rejection by family and friends (Feinstein & Dyar, 2017;Johnson & Grove, 2017;Jorm et al, 2002).…”