Support, discrimination, and alcohol use among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youth
Austin, A., & Craig, S. L. (2013). Support, discrimination, and alcohol use among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youth. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 25(4), 420–442. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2013.833067
Highlights
Background
Rates of alcohol use for sexual minority youths (SMY) are nearly twice that of their heterosexual peers, yet specific risk and protective factors associated with alcohol use among SMY remain unclear.
Study Description
We examined relationships among 1) alcohol use, 2) peer and family support, and 3) perceived discrimination among 207 diverse SMY (Mage = 16.2, SDage = 1.05) in Miami, Florida
Race/Ethnicity: A majority of participants identified as Hispanic/Latino (58%) and African-American/Black (31%)
Sexual Orientation: Participants identified as bisexual (44%), lesbian (36%), and gay (20%) and their gender identity as female (65%), male (32%), and transgender/genderqueer/intersex (3%)
Note: the small percentage of youths identifying as transgender, genderqueer, intersex, or other (3%) precluded inclusion in the statistical analyses
Key Findings
Discrimination had no significant relationship to alcohol use
However, discrimination was negatively associated with peer and family support, meaning the greater the support the less reported discrimination
Overall, the variables in the model accounted for approximately 5% of the variance in youth alcohol use
Peer support was associated with greater alcohol use among bisexual youths meaning that the more peer support youth experienced the more they consumed alcohol
This study adds to our understanding of the roles of discrimination (minority stress), social support, and alcohol use among diverse SMY
