Social Networks and Sexual Orientation Disparities in Tobacco and Alcohol Use

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the composition of social networks contributes to sexual orientation disparities in substance use and misuse. Method: Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative cohort study of adolescents (N = 20,745). Wave 1 collected extensive information about the social networks of participants through peer nomination inventories. Results: Same-and both-sex-attracted youths had higher frequency/quantity of tobacco use in their peer networks than did opposite-sex-attracted youths, and both-sex-attracted youths had higher frequency/quantity of alcohol use and misuse in their peer networks than opposite-sex-attracted youths. Among same-and both-sex-attracted youths, greater frequency/quantity of tobacco use in one's social network predicted greater use of cigarettes. In addition, greater frequency/quantity of peers' drinking and drinking to intoxication predicted more alcohol use and alcohol misuse in the both-sex-attracted group. These social network factors mediated sexual orientation-related disparities in tobacco use for both-and same-sex-attracted youths. Moreover, sexual orientation disparities in alcohol misuse were mediated by social network characteristics for the same-sex and both-sex-attracted youths. Importantly, sexual minority adolescents were no more likely to have other sexual minorities in their social networks than were sexual majority youths, ruling out an alternative explanation for our results. Conclusions: These fi ndings highlight the importance of social networks as correlates of substance use behaviors among sexual minority youths and as potential pathways explaining sexual orientation disparities in substance use outcomes. (J.

Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: a Scoping Review

“…Adaptive personality traits (e.g., being ambitious, open to new experiences, less narcissistic) mitigated the adverse relationship between discrimination and alcohol misuse among SMY [49]. At least one study [38] found that connection to the sexual minority community was protective, while other studies either only found this association among a subset of SMY (e.g., gay-identified youth) or found no association at all [50, 51, 45, 52]. This inconsistency in findings may be partially explained by differences in peer group drinking norms [50, 53].…”

“…At least one study [38] found that connection to the sexual minority community was protective, while other studies either only found this association among a subset of SMY (e.g., gay-identified youth) or found no association at all [50, 51, 45, 52]. This inconsistency in findings may be partially explained by differences in peer group drinking norms [50, 53]. Parental attachment moderated the relationship between bisexual identity and HED risk in at least one study [10].…”

“…Parental attachment moderated cannabis risk among bisexual youth [10] and was associated with reduced overall drug use among Chinese young SMM involved in sex work [71]. In contrast, SMY community connectedness did not mitigate general drug use disparities [50, 51, 72, 52, 45], possibly due to differences in peer drug use norms [51]. Finally, policies at the state (e.g., employment non-discrimination; marriage equality) and school levels (e.g., anti-bullying) were associated with lower rates of both general drug and cannabis use [27], and drug-related consequences [31].…”

“…Social support was also an important protective factor, with perceived parental support predicting lower risk of HED (particularly among adolescent SMW) [86] and peer support being particularly protective for bisexual adolescents [52]. However, these associations were moderated by peer alcohol use norms in one study [50]. School connectedness and overall social support were also associated with lower rates of heavy drinking during high school [66] and adulthood [47].…”

Sexual orientation disparities in smoking vary by sex and household smoking among US adults: Findings from the 2003–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

“…Despite a fairly robust literature on the importance of social networks as a determinant of tobacco use (12–14), there is a paucity of research on the role of such networks in explaining sexual orientation-related disparities in tobacco use (15). Social networks, in particular household members, have been identified as a critical aspect of smoking initiation, continued use, cessation, and relapse (16, 17).…”