Substance use and related problems among U.S. women who identify as mostly heterosexual

Background: We used data from a nationally representative sample to compare substance use outcomes among adult women who identified as mostly heterosexual with those who identified as exclusively (only) heterosexual. Method: We analyzed data from mostly heterosexual women and only heterosexual women in Wave 5 (2001) of the National Study of Health and Life Experiences of Women (weighted n = 1085). Results: Mostly heterosexual women were significantly more likely than only heterosexual women to report every alcohol-related outcome included in our analyses except lifetime treatment. Odds of lifetime and past-year marijuana and cocaine use showed larger differences, with mostly heterosexual women nearly four times as likely as only heterosexual women to report lifetime cocaine use and five times as likely to report past-year use. Conclusions: We recommend that researchers use measures of sexual identity that include more nuanced response options, and that health care providers learn about the existence, large numbers, and risk/protective factors associated with substance use patterns of mostly heterosexual women

Health Status, Health Service Use, and Satisfaction According to Sexual Identity of Young Australian Women

Objectives: To compare physical and mental health status, health service use and satisfaction amongst young Australian women of varying sexual identity; and to explore associations of all of these variables with satisfaction with their general practitioner (GP). Methods: Data are from the youngest cohort of women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women‘s Health surveyed in 2003. The sample included women aged 25-30 who identified as exclusively heterosexual (n=8,083, 91.3%), mainly heterosexual (n=568, 6.4%), bisexual (n=100, 1.1%), or lesbian (n=99, 1.1%). Univariate analyses compared self-reported mental health, physical health, access to GP services and satisfaction across the four sexual identity groups. Linear regression, controlling for education, income and residence, was used to identify factors associated with GP satisfaction. Results: Sexual minority women (lesbian, bisexual and mainly heterosexual) were significantly more likely than were heterosexual women to report poorer mental health and to have more frequently used health services; depression was strongly associated with mental health services use. Bisexual and mainly heterosexual women were most likely to report poorer general health, abnormal Pap tests, STI, UTI, Hepatitis B or C, and asthma. Lesbians were most likely to have never had a Pap test or 2 be under-screened. All sexual minority women had lower continuity of GP care and lower satisfaction with that care than heterosexual women. Conclusions: Underlying social determinants of physical and mental health disparities experienced by sexual minority women require exploration, including the possible effects of discrimination and marginalization on higher levels of risk taking. Lower continuity of care and lower satisfaction with GP services also need further investigation

Sexual Orientation and Substance Abuse Treatment Utilization in the United States: Results from a National Survey

This study examined substance abuse treatment utilization across three dimensions of sexual orientation (identity, attraction, and behavior) in a large national sample of adults in the United States. Prevalence estimates were based on data collected from the 2004-2005 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The sample consisted of 34,653 adults 20 years and older, and represented a population that was 52% women, 71% White, 12% Hispanic. 11% African American, 4% Asian, and 2% other race/ethnicities. An estimated 2% of the target population self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual; 4% reported same-sex sexual behavior, and 6% reported same-sex sexual attraction. Sexual minorities, especially women, had a greater likelihood of lifetime substance use disorders and earlier age of drinking onset. The majority of respondents with substance use disorders were untreated and lifetime substance abuse treatment utilization differed based on sexual orientation. Sexual minorities were found to have more extensive family histories of substance abuse problems. The findings indicate the underutilization of substance abuse treatment among all adults, and highlight some important factors to consider when working with sexual minorities

Sexual Victimization and Hazardous Drinking Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Women

Aims: Although research shows that sexual minority women report high rates of lifetime sexual victimization and high rates of hazardous drinking, investigators have yet to explore the relationships between sexual victimization and hazardous drinking in this population. In addition, because rates of these problems may vary within the sexual minority population, we examined and compared relationships between sexual victimization and hazardous drinking in exclusively heterosexual and sexual minority (mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly lesbian and exclusively lesbian) women. Method: Data from 548 participants in the National Study of Health and Life Experiences of Women and 405 participants in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study were pooled to address these relationships. We compared hazardous drinking, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), adult sexual assault (ASA), and revictimization (both CSA and ASA) across the five sexual identity subgroups. We then fit a multilevel general linear model to examine group differences in the relationships between hazardous drinking and sexual victimization and to test for potential interactions between victimization and identity on hazardous drinking. Results: Sexual minority women reported higher levels of hazardous drinking and higher rates of CSA and sexual revictimization than did exclusively heterosexual women. Revictimization was the strongest predictor of hazardous drinking among women who identified as mostly heterosexual and mostly lesbian. Conclusions: This study extends previous research by examining associations between sexual victimization and hazardous drinking in heterosexual and sexual minority women and by exploring within-group variations in these associations among sexual minority women. Higher rates of lifetime sexual victimization and revictimization may help to explain sexual minority women’s heightened risk for hazardous drinking. The findings highlight the need for additional research that examines the meanings of sexual identity labels to more fully understand differences in risk within groups of sexual minority women as well as how sexual identity may affect responses to and interpretations of sexual victimization

sj-docx-1-tva-10.1177_15248380221122815 – Supplemental material for Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual Minority Women: A Scoping Review

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-tva-10.1177_15248380221122815 for Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual Minority Women: A Scoping Review by Lauren M. Porsch, Mariah Xu, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Lauren A. Bochicchio, Sarah S. Zollweg and Tonda L. Hughes in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse</p