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LGBT Community, Social Network Characteristics, and Smoking Behaviors in Young Sexual Minority Women
Author(s) -
Johns Michelle Marie,
Pingel Emily S.,
Youatt Emily J.,
Soler Jorge H.,
McClelland Sara I.,
Bauermeister Jose A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/s10464-013-9584-4
Subject(s) - sexual minority , health psychology , minority stress , psychology , psychological intervention , sexual orientation , social support , public health , social network (sociolinguistics) , social psychology , sexual behavior , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , political science , nursing , law , social media
Smoking rates among young sexual minority women (YSMW) are disproportionately high as compared to heterosexual populations. While this disparity has commonly been attributed to the sexual minority stress process, little empirical work has explored what may protect YSMW from high rates of smoking. Using data (N = 471) from a cross‐sectional study designed to investigate YSMW's (age 18–24) smoking behaviors and correlates; we explore the relationship of LGBT community connections, YSMW's social network characteristics, and stress to smoking behaviors (i.e., status, frequency, amount). Through this analysis, we find support for LGBT community connection as well as friendships with other sexual minorities as protective in relation to YSMW's smoking behaviors. We discuss the implications of our results, highlighting the need for future longitudinal research and interventions designed to bolster YSMW's connections to the LGBT community and their social networks.