The perceived social rejection of sexual minorities: Substance use and unprotected sexual intercourse

Abstract

This study presents associations between the perceived social rejection of sexual minorities and tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis consumption and unprotected sexual intercourse in the capital of Greece, Athens. This is the first Greek study to evaluate the concept of the minority stress theory on sexual minorities' substance use and unprotected sexual intercourse. In addition, this is among the first international studies to examine whether periods of adverse economic conditions are associated with sexual minorities' substance use and unprotected sexual intercourse. Two panel datasets covering the periods 2013-2014 and 2018-2019 were used to determine the perceived social rejection, that is, whether sexual minorities have been rejected by friends, treated unfairly in educational and/or workplace environments, treated negatively in social situations and received poor health and public services due to their sexuality. The estimates indicate that perceived social rejection is associated with the increased consumption of tobacco (by 9.1%, P <0.01), alcohol (by 7.1%, P <0.01), and cannabis (by 12.5%, P <0.01), as well as unprotected sexual intercourse (by 6.5%, P <0.01). In the first three cases, the magnitude of the associations is stronger for men than women and there is increased cannabis consumption during periods of deteriorated economic conditions (by 5.5%, P <0.01). In the European Union, reducing stigma, substance use, risky sexual behaviours, and health inequalities for sexual minorities is a goal of public health. If minority stress is correlated with substance use and risky sexual behaviours leading to detrimental physical/mental health outcomes then prevention and support interventions should be designed.

Forced labor and health-related outcomes. The case of beggar children

“…The research team consisted of a principal investigator and two research assistants. The principal investigator had accumulated experience in collecting cross-sectional and longitudinal data from vulnerable adult population groups identified in Athenian streets, e. g., sex workers, homeless people, and illicit drug users (Drydakis, 2022a), migrant and refugee groups (Drydakis, 2021(Drydakis, , 2022b, young population groups enrolled in schools (Drydakis, 2023a(Drydakis, , 2023b, sexual orientation minorities (Drydakis, 2022c(Drydakis, , 2022d, and the general public (Drydakis, 2015).…”

Health inequalities among people experiencing food insecurity. An intersectional approach

“…Furthermore, there are critical economic disparities among individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity (Drydakis, 2022b(Drydakis, , 2022c. Due to stigma, social rejection, discrimination and victimisation, LGBT individuals experience higher rates of unemployment, poverty and financial hardships, which have been found to adversely affect their physical and mental health outcomes (Drydakis, 2022b(Drydakis, , 2022c.…”

“…In Greece, since 2010, research has found that women, disabled people, ethnic minorities, sexual and gender identity minorities, unemployed people, those experiencing low income, disadvantaged populations and people consuming illicit drugs face deteriorated physical and mental health (Drydakis, 2015(Drydakis, , 2021a(Drydakis, , 2022a(Drydakis, , 2023(Drydakis, , 2022b(Drydakis, , 2022c. The empirical evidence reviewed indicates that gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, employment, long-term health conditions, substance use and geography might emerge as crucial categories for the study of health determinants and inequalities in populations facing severe economic struggles (Drydakis, 2022a(Drydakis, , 2022b(Drydakis, , 2022c. Multiple marginalisations are mutually constituted and cannot be understood or ameliorated by approaches that treat single socioeconomic characteristics, that is, gender and low-income, as distinct subjects of inquiry (Gkiouleka et al, 2018).…”

Economic recession, parental unemployment and adolescents’ health-related quality of life and mental health outcomes in Greece

“…During an economic recession, economically unstable families may suddenly find themselves caught in the poverty trap and experience well-being deteriorations (Alemán-Díaz et al 2016;Fanjul 2014;Currie 2009). In Greece, during the economic recession, vulnerable population groups experienced physical health and mental health deterioration (Drydakis 2022a(Drydakis , 2022b2021a, 2021b.…”