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Psychosocial Factors Related to Smoking in Gay and Lesbian Young Adults

Psychosocial Factors Related to Smoking in Gay and Lesbian Young Adults. Catherine J. Massey, PhD Slippery Rock University Tracy Morris, PhD West Virginia University Abby Friedman, MA West Virginia University. Study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Special Thanks to….

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Psychosocial Factors Related to Smoking in Gay and Lesbian Young Adults

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  1. Psychosocial Factors Related to Smoking in Gay and Lesbian Young Adults Catherine J. Massey, PhD Slippery Rock University Tracy Morris, PhD West Virginia University Abby Friedman, MA West Virginia University Study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse

  2. Special Thanks to…. Jeffery Dittmer Dana Trout Haley Eslep Slippery Rock University and Thomas Hill West Virginia University

  3. Purpose of Study: Examine psychosocial factors related to smoking in gay men and lesbians Long-Range Goal: Develop cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation program for gay men and lesbians

  4. Potential Reasons for High Smoking Rates • High stress levels because of societal attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality(Ryan et al., 2001; Silenzio & White, 2000; Skinner, 1994; Staley et al., 2001; Stall et al., 1999) • High levels of anxiety and depression (DeAngelis, 2002; Fergusson et al., 1999; Gilman et al., 2001; Gonsiorek, 1988) • Low self-esteem(Shidlo, 1994; Szymanski et al., 2001)

  5. Potential Reasons for High Smoking Rates • Maladaptive coping skills (Matheny & Weatherman, 1998) • Low family support (Boxer et al., 1991; D’Augelli & Hershberger, 1993; Gonsiorek, 1988) • Poor body image for gay men? • Sex-roles for Gay Men and Lesbians?

  6. Purpose of Study: Examine psychosocial factors related to smoking in gay men and lesbians including: -perceived stress -depression and anxiety -self-esteem -coping styles -family and friend support -body image -sex-roles

  7. Method Participants SmokersNonsmokersTot Gay Men 38 33 71 Hetero. Men 37 43 80 Lesbians 40 32 72 Hetero. Women 4140 81 Total 156 148 304

  8. Participants (cont.) • Mean age = 20.23 years (SD = 1.73) • 91% non-Hispanic White • Gay/Lesbian • Mean age “come out” = 17.82 yrs (SD = 1.99) • 70.6% have “come out” to Mom • 50.4% have “come out” to Dad • 99.3% have “come out” to closest friend

  9. Measures (all participants) • Background information • Substance Use History • Beck Depression Inventory - II (Beck et al., 1996) • Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988) • Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) • Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen & Williamson, 1988) • Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988) • Coping Strategies (Holahan & Moos, 1987) • Bem Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1981) • Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (Cash & Pruzinsky, 1990)

  10. Measures • (Smokers) • Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire(Fagerstrom, 1978).

  11. Results • Smokers • Mean age started smoking = 13.95 yrs (SD = 2.76) • Gay/LesbianHetero. • Mean # cig. wk day*14.98 (8.42) 9.26 (6.05) • Mean # cig. wkend day*21.62 (11.90) 14.60 (7.42) • Nicotine dependence*4.15 (1.97) 3.10 (1.46) • *significant differencep < .05

  12. Nonsignificant: active coping, masculinity, friend support, and body satisfaction

  13. Nonsignificant: active coping, femininity, stress, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and friend support

  14. Nonsignificant: active coping, avoidance coping, femininity, masculinity, body satisfaction, weight preoccupation, family and friend support, stress, self-esteem, depression

  15. Discussion Significant risk factors for gay male smokers: -avoidance coping -feminine behaviors? -weight preoccupation -family support -stress -anxiety -depression -self-esteem

  16. Significant risk factors for lesbian smokers: -avoidance coping -masculine behaviors? -body satisfaction? -weight preoccupation?

  17. Limitations • Majority lesbian/gay sample recruited from bars and student organizations • Lesbian/gay sample comfortable w/identity • Unequal sample size • Sample from conservative and rural areas

  18. Future Directions • Focus groups to clarify role of body image and sex- roles in gay and lesbian smoking behavior • Modify existing smoking cessation program to lesbian and gay smokers • Pilot program with diverse groups • Evaluate efficacy of program

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