Abstract
Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults experience elevated rates of alcohol and drug use; it is, therefore, important to identify protective factors that decrease risk for substance use in this population. This study examined whether involvement in a romantic relationship, a well-established protective factor against heavy drinking and drug use among heterosexual adults, is also protective for SGM youth. Methods: This study used eight waves of data provided by a community sample of 248 racially diverse SGM youth (ages 16–20 years at baseline). Multilevel structural equation models were used to assess within-person associations between relationship involvement and use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. Age, gender, and sexual identity were tested as moderators. Results: Romantic involvement was associated with less drinking for all participants (Rate Ratio = 0.64) and decreased likelihood of illicit drug use for gay and lesbian participants (Odds Ratio = 0.56). However, participants reported smoking 26% more cigarettes when romantically involved. Further, among bisexuals, romantic involvement was associated with increased marijuana (Rate Ratio = 2.31) and other illicit drug use (Odds Ratio = 2.39). Conclusions: Study findings indicate some protective effects of relationship involvement against substance use among SGM youth, particularly with respect to alcohol and illicit drugs other than marijuana. However, dating may promote smoking in all SGM youth and drug use in bisexual youth. The demographic differences observed in the effects of romantic involvement highlight the importance of attending to differences among SGM youth in research, theory, and substance use reduction efforts.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 215-222 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
| Volume | 191 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Alcohol use
- Illicit drug use
- LGBT
- Romantic involvement
- Smoking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
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Effects of romantic involvement on substance use among young sexual and gender minorities. / Whitton, Sarah W.; Dyar, Christina Elizabeth; Newcomb, Michael; Mustanski, Brian.
In: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 191, 01.10.2018, p. 215-222.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of romantic involvement on substance use among young sexual and gender minorities
AU - Whitton, Sarah W.
AU - Dyar, Christina Elizabeth
AU - Newcomb, Michael
AU - Mustanski, Brian
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults experience elevated rates of alcohol and drug use; it is, therefore, important to identify protective factors that decrease risk for substance use in this population. This study examined whether involvement in a romantic relationship, a well-established protective factor against heavy drinking and drug use among heterosexual adults, is also protective for SGM youth. Methods: This study used eight waves of data provided by a community sample of 248 racially diverse SGM youth (ages 16–20 years at baseline). Multilevel structural equation models were used to assess within-person associations between relationship involvement and use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. Age, gender, and sexual identity were tested as moderators. Results: Romantic involvement was associated with less drinking for all participants (Rate Ratio = 0.64) and decreased likelihood of illicit drug use for gay and lesbian participants (Odds Ratio = 0.56). However, participants reported smoking 26% more cigarettes when romantically involved. Further, among bisexuals, romantic involvement was associated with increased marijuana (Rate Ratio = 2.31) and other illicit drug use (Odds Ratio = 2.39). Conclusions: Study findings indicate some protective effects of relationship involvement against substance use among SGM youth, particularly with respect to alcohol and illicit drugs other than marijuana. However, dating may promote smoking in all SGM youth and drug use in bisexual youth. The demographic differences observed in the effects of romantic involvement highlight the importance of attending to differences among SGM youth in research, theory, and substance use reduction efforts.
AB - Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults experience elevated rates of alcohol and drug use; it is, therefore, important to identify protective factors that decrease risk for substance use in this population. This study examined whether involvement in a romantic relationship, a well-established protective factor against heavy drinking and drug use among heterosexual adults, is also protective for SGM youth. Methods: This study used eight waves of data provided by a community sample of 248 racially diverse SGM youth (ages 16–20 years at baseline). Multilevel structural equation models were used to assess within-person associations between relationship involvement and use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. Age, gender, and sexual identity were tested as moderators. Results: Romantic involvement was associated with less drinking for all participants (Rate Ratio = 0.64) and decreased likelihood of illicit drug use for gay and lesbian participants (Odds Ratio = 0.56). However, participants reported smoking 26% more cigarettes when romantically involved. Further, among bisexuals, romantic involvement was associated with increased marijuana (Rate Ratio = 2.31) and other illicit drug use (Odds Ratio = 2.39). Conclusions: Study findings indicate some protective effects of relationship involvement against substance use among SGM youth, particularly with respect to alcohol and illicit drugs other than marijuana. However, dating may promote smoking in all SGM youth and drug use in bisexual youth. The demographic differences observed in the effects of romantic involvement highlight the importance of attending to differences among SGM youth in research, theory, and substance use reduction efforts.
KW - Alcohol use
KW - Illicit drug use
KW - LGBT
KW - Romantic involvement
KW - Smoking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051951052&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051951052&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.06.037
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.06.037
M3 - Article
C2 - 30145487
AN - SCOPUS:85051951052
VL - 191
SP - 215
EP - 222
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
SN - 0376-8716
ER -