Association of Alcohol Misuse with Sexual Identity and Sexual Behavior in Women Veterans
BACKGROUND:
Sexual
minority women report greater alcohol misuse than heterosexual women in the
general population, with more pronounced differences found among younger age
groups. It is unknown whether these differences exist among women veterans.
OBJECTIVE:
We
evaluated differences in alcohol misuse across two dimensions of sexual
orientation (identity and behavior) among women veterans, and examined whether
these differences were modified by age.
METHODS:
Women
veterans were recruited via the internet to participate in an online survey.
Participants provided information on their self-reported sexual identity and
behavior and responded to the validated 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders
Identification Test-Consumption questionnaire (AUDIT-C). Regression models were
used to compare the prevalence of alcohol misuse (AUDIT-C ≥ 3) and severity
(AUDIT-C scores) across sexual identity and behavior and to test effect
modification by age.
RESULTS:
Among the
702 participants (36% lesbian/bisexual), prevalence and severity of alcohol
misuse varied by both sexual identity and behavior, but there were significant
interactions with age. Prevalence and severity of alcohol misuse were higher
among relatively younger self-identified lesbians compared to heterosexual
women. Similarly, both prevalence and severity of alcohol misuse were generally
higher among younger women who had any sex with women compared to those who had
sex only with men. Conclusions/Importance: In this online study of women
veterans, younger sexual minority women were more likely to screen positive for
alcohol misuse, and they had more severe alcohol misuse, than their
heterosexual counterparts. Prevention and treatment efforts focused
specifically on sexual minority women veterans may be needed.
By: Lehavot K1,2,3,4, Williams EC1,4, Millard SP2, Bradley KA1,4,5, Simpson TL2,3,6.
- 1a VA Health Services Research & Development, Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- 2b Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- 3c Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- 4d Department of Health Services, University of Washington , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- 5e Group Health Research Institute , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- 6f Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE), VA Puget Sound Health Care System , Seattle , Washington , USA.
- Subst Use Misuse. 2016 Jan 22:1-14.
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