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. 2015 Sep 1:154:251-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.006. Epub 2015 Jul 16.

Differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems between transgender- and nontransgender-identified young adults

Robert W S Coulter  1 , John R Blosnich  2 , Leigh A Bukowski  3 , A L Herrick  3 , Daniel E Siconolfi  4 , Ron D Stall  3
Affiliations

Differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems between transgender- and nontransgender-identified young adults

Robert W S Coulter et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: Little is known about differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems between transgender- and nontransgender-identified populations. Using data from a large-scale health survey, we compare the drinking patterns and prevalence of alcohol-related problems of transgender-identified individuals to nontransgender-identified males and females. For transgender-identified people, we examine how various forms of victimization relate to heavy episodic drinking (HED).

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were completed by 75,192 students aged 18-29 years attending 120 post-secondary educational institutions in the United States from 2011 to 2013. Self-reported measures included alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, victimization, and sociodemographics, including 3 gender-identity groups: transgender-identified individuals; nontransgender-identified males; and nontransgender-identified females.

Results: Compared to transgender-identified individuals, nontransgender-identified males were more likely to report HED in the past 2 weeks (relative risk=1.42; p=0.006); however, nontransgender-identified males and females reported HED on fewer days than transgender-identified people (incidence-rate ratios [IRRs] ranged from 0.28 to 0.43; p-values<0.001). Compared to transgender-identified people, nontransgender-identified males and females had lower odds of past-year alcohol-related sexual assault and suicidal ideation (odds ratios ranged from 0.24 to 0.45; p-values<0.05). Among transgender-identified people, individuals who were sexually assaulted (IRR=3.21, p=0.011) or verbally threatened (IRR=2.42, p=0.021) in the past year had greater HED days than those who did not experience those forms of victimization.

Conclusions: Compared to transgender-identified people, nontransgender-identified males and females: have fewer HED occasions (despite nontransgender-identified males having greater prevalence of HED); and are at lower risk for alcohol-related sexual assaults and suicidal ideation. Experiences of sexual assault and verbal threats are associated with greater HED occasions for transgender-identified people.

Keywords: Alcohol use; Alcohol-related problems; Heavy episodic drinking; Transgender; Violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

None

References

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