Smoking it all away: influences of stress, negative emotions, and stigma on lesbian tobacco use.

This study explored the reported processes, conditions, and consequences of lesbian and heterosexual female smoking and relapse to understand the reasons for elevated lesbian smoking rates. Using grounded theory techniques, we conducted semistructured, face-to-face interviews with an ethnically diverse sample of 35 lesbian and 35 heterosexual female participants in Northern California. We found minority stress/sexual stigma to be an additional, unique cause of negative emotions and stress reported by 75% of lesbian participants, leading to smoking and relapse. Implications for smoking cessation programs tailored to lesbians are discussed.

Cigar and smokeless tobacco use in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population.

Large population-based studies of alternative tobacco use in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population are needed to more fully measure tobacco use outcomes. This descriptive study used standard measures of alternative tobacco use from two separate, statewide household-based studies to compare basic prevalence rates in the LGB population and the general population in California. A total of 1,950 adult lesbians, bisexual women, heterosexual women who have sex with women, gay men, bisexual men, and heterosexual men who have sex with men, all living in California, completed surveys between 2003 and 2004. From a general population-based sample (California Tobacco Survey, 2002), a total of 11,037 adult women and 9,488 men were used as comparisons. The prevalence rates for lifetime and current cigar smoking and smokeless tobacco use were lower for all LGB subpopulations compared with the general population.

Disparities in smoking between the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population and the general population in California.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a large, population-based study to assess tobacco use in California's lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population. METHODS: Standard measures of tobacco use from 2 separate, statewide household-based studies were used to compare basic prevalence rates in the LGB population and the general population in California. Data were derived from a 2003-2004 survey of LGB individuals living in California as well as from the 2002 version of the California Tobacco Survey, which gathered data on the state's general population. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence rates were higher in our sample of lesbians, bisexual women, and women who have sex with women than among women in the general California population. In the case of men, the only significant difference was that rates were higher among gay men than among men in the general population. Disparities in tobacco use between the LGB population and the general population were still evident after we controlled for key demographic variables and in comparisons with other tobacco use indicators such as average cigarette consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco control efforts targeting the LGB population are needed to reduce this group's high rate of cigarette smoking.

Gay/Lesbian sexual orientation increases risk for cigarette smoking and heavy drinking among members of a large Northern California health plan.

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Tobacco and alcohol use and related morbidity and mortality are critical public health problems. Results of several, but not all, studies suggest that lesbians and gay men are at elevated risk for smoking tobacco and alcohol misuse. METHODS: Data from random sample general health surveys of adult members of a large Northern California Health Plan conducted in 1999 and 2002 were analyzed using gender-based multivariate logistic regression models to assess whether lesbians (n = 210) and gay men (n = 331) aged 20-65 were more likely than similarly aged heterosexual women (n = 12,188) and men (n = 9342) to be smokers and heavy drinkers. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, and survey year, lesbians were significantly more likely than heterosexual women to be heavy drinkers (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.08, 4.23) and current smokers (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.02, 2.51). Among men, gays were significantly more likely than heterosexuals to be current smokers (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.75, 3.30), with borderline significant increased risk for heavy drinking (OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.96, 2.45). CONCLUSION: Lesbians and gay men may be at increased risk for morbidity and mortality due to higher levels of cigarette and alcohol use. More population-based research is needed to understand the nature of substance use in these communities so that appropriate interventions can be developed.