Minority Stress and Nicotine Use and Dependence among Sexual Minority Youth

Abstract

Sexual minority youth (SMY), especially those who are plurisexual (e.g. bisexual, pansexual, queer), are more likely to use nicotine or develop nicotine dependence than their heterosexual peers, and this disparity is often attributed to minority stress (e.g. discrimination). This study tested the association between minority stress and nicotine use and dependence among SMY and examined the moderating role of impulsivity. A sample of SMY (N = 85; aged 14–19; 80.6% White; 80% plurisexual) who were active nicotine users were recruited from the community. Results indicated that greater discrimination experiences were associated with more nicotine use days and higher nicotine dependence symptoms. However, impulsivity did not moderate the relationship between discrimination and nicotine use or dependence. These results highlight the potential importance of minority stress in understanding SMY’s risk for nicotine use and dependence. This research suggests the need for identifying factors that could place some SMY at greater risk for nicotine use and dependence and points to potential clinical implications for nicotine cessation interventions for SMY.

Keywords:

• Minority stress
• discrimination
• nicotine use: nicotine dependence
• impulsivity
• sexual minority youth

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes

1 The pattern of findings for these associations was similar when the sample was limited to those reporting that sexual orientation was one of the reasons for the discrimination experienced (n = 62).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [K08AA025011, K24AA026326] and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [R21MD010761].