Examining Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol Use in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are at increased risk for alcohol misuse, but little is known about the psychosocial and demographic factors that are associated with these differences over time. The purpose of this study was to investigate change in alcohol use across development. We aimed to describe group/ demographic differences in alcohol use, the effects of psychosocial variables on drinking within persons (i.e., psychological distress, sexual orientation-based victimization, and perceived family support), and the interactions between demographic differences and longitudinal psychosocial variables in predicting rates of alcohol use. Method: The current study used data from the longest running longitudinal study of LGBT youth. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine both demographic differences and psychosocial predictors of alcohol use in an ethnically diverse sample of 246 LGBT youth (ages 16-20 years at baseline) across fi ve time points over 2.5 years. Results: Drinking increased signifi cantly over time in a linear fashion, although it tended to increase more rapidly among male LGBT youth compared with females. Analyses of group differences revealed lower average rates of drinking for African American and female LGBT youth, and there were no differences between bisexual youth and gay/lesbian youth. Psychological distress and sexual orientation-based victimization were associated with increased alcohol use at each wave of data collection for female LGBT youth only. Perceived family support at each wave was negatively associated with alcohol use for all LGBT youth. Conclusions: Findings indicate that there is signifi cant heterogeneity in the etiological pathways that lead to alcohol use in LGBT youth and that correlates of drinking are similar to those found in general populations. These crucial fi ndings indicate that existing alcohol interventions also may be effective for LGBT youth and open up a wider array of prevention and treatment options for this at-risk population. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 73, 783-793, 2012)

Binge Drinking

“…2 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are at elevated risk of alcohol misuse, with drinking patterns that significantly increase linearly over time, more rapidly among male compared with female LGBT youth. 18 However, the overall pattern of results and correlates of alcohol use are strikingly similar to those of non-LGBT youth. 18 Rates of drinking were significantly lower in African American LGBT youth than in those of all other racial groups.…”

HIV Information and Behavioral Skills Moderate the Effects of Relationship Type and Substance Use on HIV Risk Behaviors Among African American Youth

“…Furthermore, African American adolescents and adults have been found to drink and use drugs significantly less frequently compared to White individuals, 35,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47] and the association between substance use and sexual risk may not be consistent across racial groups.…”

Typologies of Social Support and Associations with Mental Health Outcomes Among LGBT Youth

“…GBT youth face multiple mental health disparities, including increased depressive symptoms, hopelessness, self-harm, and suicidality [1][2][3][4] as well as alcohol misuse 5,6 and substance use. 7,8 Several recent reports (e.g., Institute of Medicine 9,10 ) identify the extent of these disparities and advocate research on risk and protective factors for this population.…”

“…Much of this work for LGBT youth has focused on family support, which has been negatively associated with hopelessness, depressive symptoms, suicidality, 13,15 and alcohol misuse. 5 Conversely, family rejection has been associated with increased suicide attempts, depression, and risk behaviors. 15 Research has also found family support to be more protective than peer or significant-other support for non-suicidal self-injury and alcohol use among adolescents 16 and for school performance among multiethnic sexual minority youth.…”