The Prospective Association of Internalized Sexual Prejudice during Adolescence with Binge Drinking, Smoking, and Disordered Weight Control Behaviors in Adulthood

Abstract

Prior research shows the importance of internalized sexual prejudice and participation in health indicators for sexual minority people, yet no research has used prospective measures or differentiated sexual minority groups. Data come from the longitudinal cohort study Growing Up Today Study 1 (N = 6,606), limited to participants who provided information on internalized sexual prejudice in adolescence and health indicators in adulthood. Completely heterosexual women with same-sex partners and mostly heterosexual women who reported high internalized sexual prejudice during their adolescence were more likely to binge drink during adulthood than completely heterosexual women with no same-sex partners. Similar patterns existed for mostly heterosexual and lesbian women when predicting smoking. Sexual orientation-related disparities in binge drinking smoking were largest for women with high internalized sexual prejudice who identify as completely heterosexual women with same-sex partners and mostly heterosexual women–groups that may have lower levels of connectedness to the buffering effects of sexual minority communities.

Keywords:

• Smoking
• drinking
• disordered weight control behavior
• internalized sexual prejudice
• bisexual health

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by National Institutes of Health [T32CA009001, R01HD057368, R01HD066963, R01DA033974, 2R01OH0098003], Health Resources and Services Administration [T71MC00009 and T76MC00001], and American Cancer Society [MRSG CPHPS 130006].

Notes on contributors

Alexa L. Solazzo

Alexa Solazzo, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital. Her research interests include cancer disparities across sexual orientation and sexual orientation-related stigma.

Ariella R. Tabaac

Ari Tabaac, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Their work encompasses LGBTQ health, including LGBTQ differences in cancer and health communication.

Allegra R. Gordon

Allegra Gordon, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Public Health. She uses quantitative and qualitative research methods to understand the mental and physical health impacts of discrimination as well as the effects of gender norms and stereotypes on the health of young people across sexual orientations and gender identities.

Margaret Rosario

Margaret Rosario, PhD, is a Professor at City College of New York. Her research interests include concepts of health and adaptational implications of identity and stress among sexual minority youth.

S. Bryn Austin

S. Bryn Austin, ScD, is a Professor at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work focuses broadly on eating disorders prevention and the study of health inequities adversely affecting sexual minority and transgender youth.

Brittany M. Charlton

Brittany M. Charlton, ScD, is an Assistant Professor at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Charlton’s research focuses on reproductive health across sexual orientations and gender identities.