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. 2014 Jun;104(6):1137-47.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301819. Epub 2014 Apr 17.

Sexual orientation disparities in adolescent cigarette smoking: intersections with race/ethnicity, gender, and age

Heather L Corliss  1 , Margaret Rosario, Michelle A Birkett, Michael E Newcomb, Francisco O Buchting, Alicia K Matthews
Affiliations

Sexual orientation disparities in adolescent cigarette smoking: intersections with race/ethnicity, gender, and age

Heather L Corliss et al. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined sexual orientation differences in adolescent smoking and intersections with race/ethnicity, gender, and age.

Methods: We pooled Youth Risk Behavior Survey data collected in 2005 and 2007 from 14 jurisdictions; the analytic sample comprised observations from 13 of those jurisdictions (n = 64,397). We compared smoking behaviors of sexual minorities and heterosexuals on 2 dimensions of sexual orientation: identity (heterosexual, gay-lesbian, bisexual, unsure) and gender of lifetime sexual partners (only opposite sex, only same sex, or both sexes). Multivariable regressions examined whether race/ethnicity, gender, and age modified sexual orientation differences in smoking.

Results: Sexual minorities smoked more than heterosexuals. Disparities varied by sexual orientation dimension: they were larger when we compared adolescents by identity rather than gender of sexual partners. In some instances race/ethnicity, gender, and age modified smoking disparities: Black lesbians-gays, Asian American and Pacific Islander lesbians-gays and bisexuals, younger bisexuals, and bisexual girls had greater risk.

Conclusions: Sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender, and age should be considered in research and practice to better understand and reduce disparities in adolescent smoking.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Cumulative incidence plots of age at first smoking by (a) sexual orientation identity and (b) lifetime sex of sexual partner: Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2005 and 2007. Note. Data came from 13 jurisdictions that asked questions on sexual orientation identity or gender of lifetime sexual partners: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Connecticut; Delaware; Maine; Massachusetts; Milwaukee, WI; New York City, NY; Rhode Island; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Vermont; and Wisconsin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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