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Smoking prevalence among lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney remains high: Analysis of trends and correlates
Author(s) -
Deacon Rachel M.,
MooneySomers Julie
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12477
Subject(s) - lesbian , psychological intervention , queer , sexual orientation , transgender , human sexuality , minority stress , demography , medicine , population , psychology , sexual minority , gerontology , clinical psychology , environmental health , psychiatry , gender studies , social psychology , sociology , psychoanalysis
Abstract Introduction and Aims To investigate smoking prevalence trends and correlates among lesbian, bisexual and queer‐identifying (LBQ) women in Sydney, Australia. Design and Methods Data from 5007 respondents to a repeated cross‐sectional community survey were used to examine smoking trends between 2004 and 2014. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine smoking correlates. Results Thirty percent of respondents were current smokers, including 48% of 16 to 24‐year‐olds. A slight decrease in all‐ages smoking over time was not reflected in the youngest age group. LBQ women who smoke have fewer economic, social and psychological resources than both women who never smoke and ex‐smokers. High levels of alcohol and illicit drug use are also correlated with current smoking. Discussion and Conclusions Population‐wide interventions have failed to address the persistently high prevalence of smoking among this sample of LBQ women. Tailored interventions may find utility focusing on personal resilience to deal with general and sexuality‐specific stressors, as well as attending to poly‐substance use. Acknowledgment of LBQ women as a priority group for tobacco reduction is urgently needed. We call on tobacco control agencies to consider sexuality and gender orientation in policy and partner with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community organisations to develop culturally appropriate interventions. [Deacon RM, Mooney‐Somers J Smoking prevalence among lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney remains high: Analysis of trends and correlates Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:546‐554]