A national longitudinal study of sexual orientation discordance, sexual identity fluidity, and alcohol and other drug use disorder symptoms.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
; 50(4): 481-491, 2024 Jul 03.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39158536
ABSTRACT
Background:
Many national studies fail to account for discordance between sexual orientation dimensions (e.g. a mismatch between sexual identity and sexual attraction) or sexual identity fluidity (e.g. changes in sexual identity over time).Objective:
To examine the longitudinal relationships among sexual identity fluidity/stability, sexual orientation discordance/concordance, and alcohol and other drug use disorder symptoms.Methods:
The study used nationally representative longitudinal data from Waves 1-5 (2013-2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study of US adolescents and adults (N = 24,591).Results:
Substance use disorder symptoms were most prevalent (45.8%) among bisexual-stable females relative to all other sexual identity subgroups. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of substance use disorder symptoms were significantly higher among bisexual-stable females vs. heterosexual-stable females in all models (AOR range 1.94-2.32), while no such associations were found for males. Sexual identity-attraction discordant females had significantly greater AORs (17/20 instances) of substance use disorder symptoms compared to concordant females; this finding was not as consistent for males (6/20 instances).Conclusion:
Sexual orientation discordance was significantly associated with substance use disorder symptoms, especially among females discordant in their sexual identity and attraction. Bisexual-stable and discordant females are at highest risk of developing symptomatic substance use; it is vital that they receive screening, no matter where they are in their coming out process. This study highlights pitfalls of relying solely on cross-sectional data using a single sexual orientation dimension to understand the relationship between sexual orientation and substance use disorder.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Sexual
/
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article