PREDICTORS OF INCREASED ALCOHOL AND SEDATIVES/HYPNOTICS USE AMONG YOUNG ADULT LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A FOUR-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY
Authors: Lee *Jia-In , Yen Cheng-Fang 
Published: February 2025

Background

Increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use are prevalent among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals, but very few prospective studies have examined the predictors of increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in LGB individuals. The aims of this 4-year follow-up study were to examine the predictive effects of demographics, sexual stigma, self-identity confusion, anxiety, depression, and perceived family function before the COVID-19 pandemic on increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in a group young adult LGB individuals experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

Methods

The data of demographics, sexual stigma (i.e., perceived sexual stigma from family members, internalized sexual stigma, and sexual microaggression), self-identity confusion (i.e., disturbed identity, unconsolidated identity, and lack of identity), anxiety, depression, and perceived family function of 1,000 LGB individuals were collected in 2018 and 2019. Participants’ alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use were surveyed four years later. Participants were asked to compare the amounts of alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use before the COVID-19 pandemic and at follow-up. The associations of sexual stigma, self-identity confusion, depression, anxiety, and perceived family function at baseline with increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use at follow-up were examined using logistic regression analysis.

Results

In total, 673 (67.3%) participants agreed participating the follow-up study. Forty-five (6.7%) and 21 (3.1%) participants reported increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use, respectively. Greater sexual microaggression were significantly associated increased alcohol use. Greater unconsolidated identity, lack of identity, depression, and anxiety were significantly associated increased sedatives/hypnotics use.

Conclusions

Factors that predicted increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use differed. Intervention strategies for reducing alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in LGB individuals should be developed with consideration of the predictors identified in this study.

References

Akré ER, Anderson A, Stojanovski K, Chung KW, VanKim NA, Chae DH. Depression, Anxiety, and Alcohol Use Among LGBTQ+ People During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Public Health. 2021 Sep;111(9):1610- 1619. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306394. Epub 2021 Aug 19. PMID: 34410817; PMCID: PMC8589058.

Felner JK, Wisdom JP, Williams T, Katuska L, Haley SJ, Jun HJ, Corliss HL. Stress, Coping, and Context: Examining Substance Use Among LGBTQ Young Adults With Probable Substance Use Disorders. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 Feb 1;71(2):112-120. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900029. Epub 2019 Oct 23. PMID: 31640522;

Pmcid

PMC7002176. Johns MM, Poteat VP, Horn SS, Kosciw J. Strengthening Our Schools to Promote Resilience and Health Among LGBTQ Youth: Emerging Evidence and Research Priorities from The State of LGBTQ Youth Health and WellbeingSymposium. LGBT Health. 2019 May/Jun;6(4):146-155. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2018.0109. Epub 2019 Apr 8. PMID: 30958731; PMCID: PMC6551982. Watson RJ, Park M,

Taylor AB, Fish JN, Corliss HL, Eisenberg ME, Saewyc EM. Associations Between Community-Level LGBTQ-Supportive Factors and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Adolescents. LGBT Health. 2020 Feb/Mar;7(2):82-89. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2019.0205. Epub 2020 Jan 27. PMID: 31985327; PMCID:

PMC7138604. Li DJ, Chen SL, Chang YP, Yen CF. Factors Affecting Painkillers, Sedatives/Hypnotics, Nicotine, and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 29;17(3):851. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030851. PMID: 32013262; PMCID: PMC7038077.6.

Li DJ, Chang YP, Chen YL, Yen CF. The Impact of Emotional Symptoms and Family Support on the Association Between Homophobic Bullying and Sedative/Hypnotic Use among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan: A Moderated Mediation Model. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 29;17(11):3870. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113870. PMID: 32485987; PMCID: PMC7311954.