Description
- Abstract:
- Those whose sexual orientation and/or practices differ from society (sexual minorities [SMs]) drink more and have more alcohol-related health issues compared to heterosexuals. Research suggests that drinking is linked to discrimination experiences (e.g., mistreatment due to race). There is also evidence that minority strengths (the ways individuals derive strength from their minority identities like through social support) may reduce alcohol-related problems. The goal of this dissertation is to expand upon previous research to examine how experiences of discrimination and minority strengths are associated with drinking among SMs. In study one, I analyze data from an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examining SMs’ decision making (N=100) to determine the association between perceptions of sexual orientation discrimination and drinking. Mixed effects models indicate that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) participants drink less on days they perceive sexual orientation discrimination than on days they do not. This suggests SMs’ race/ethnicity may impact the association between discrimination and drinking. In study two, I use qualitative methods to explore how participants’ race/ethnicity and gender impact experiences of discrimination and minority strengths (N=22). Sampled white participants assigned female at birth rely more on social support from the LGBT community than those assigned male at birth. However, both male and female BIPOC participants describe not relying on such social support due to discrimination from within the LGBT community. Finally, in study three I examine how experiences of discrimination and minority strengths are associated with SMs’ drinking using EMA procedures (N=61). Mixed effects multi-level models indicate that BIPOC SMs drank more the same day they experienced discrimination regardless of gender. Minority strengths experiences have no impact on these relationships. The findings from these three studies suggest that the association between discrimination and drinking among SMs is impacted by their other identities (e.g., race and gender). Future research should continue this work and examine how discrimination based on specific identities and/or experienced in different social contexts is associated with drinking among SMs.
- Notes:
- Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brown University, 2022
Citation
Surace, Anthony William,
"It's About Time: A Temporal Analysis of Minority Strengths/Stress Effects on Drinking Behavior Among Sexual Minorities"
(2022).
Public Health Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:3rhryf9c/
Relations
Collection:
-
Public Health Theses and Dissertations
Theses and Dissertations for the Public Health department....