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. 2023 Jun;37(4):559-570.
doi: 10.1037/adb0000869. Epub 2022 Jul 18.

Associations of adult roles and minority stressors with trajectories of alcohol dependence symptoms throughout adulthood among sexual minority women

Amelia E Talley  1 , Cindy Veldhuis  2 , Melanie M Wall  3 , Sharon C Wilsnack  4 , Bethany G Everett  5 , Tonda L Hughes  2
Affiliations

Associations of adult roles and minority stressors with trajectories of alcohol dependence symptoms throughout adulthood among sexual minority women

Amelia E Talley et al. Psychol Addict Behav. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, we sought to identify trajectories of symptoms of potential alcohol dependence (AD) among adult sexual minority women (SMW). Theoretical correlates were examined in relation to the empirically identified trajectories.

Method: Data were collected at three time points between 2000 and 2012 from SMW drinkers (n = 434) enrolled in a longitudinal study (M Age = 37.49 at baseline, SD = 11.55). Using an accelerated-cohort longitudinal design, latent growth curve mixture models identified homogeneous patterns of any past-year symptoms of potential AD. Correlates of trajectories included alcohol-related developmental risk factors, adult roles, and exposure to minority stressors.

Results: Three trajectories were identified that captured risk of symptoms of potential AD over time, reflecting: (a) relatively consistent, low risk over time; (b) deceleration in risk throughout adulthood; (c) relatively persistent, high risk over time. Consistent with prior work, SMW drinkers who reported higher levels of perceived stigma or masculinity showed persistently high risk of reporting at least one past-year symptom of potential AD.

Conclusions: Most SMW drinkers report deceleration in risk of AD symptoms over time. Findings have implications for prevention and intervention efforts tailored to SMW drinkers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to report with regard to this manuscript or findings. The CHLEW dataset has been analyzed by other researchers and a list of resulting publications that utilize the CHLEW dataset is available upon request. With regard to the specific research question examined in the current manuscript, a version of these models were presented at the annual Research Society on Alcoholism Meeting. We would like to thank Richard Wilsnack for his comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Data collection for the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study is ongoing. This study was not preregistered.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Estimated Latent Trajectories and Prevalence of Reporting Any Past-year Symptoms of Potential AD Over Time Note. This figure shows model-estimated trajectories, based on latent class membership. PY = past-year, AD = alcohol dependence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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