Binge drinking among LGB young adults

What is it about?

Our study aims to describe alcohol use patterns in relation to alcohol expectancies, internalised sexual stigma and sensation seeking and to highlight the specific risk factors that sexual minority subgroups face. Data (N = 468 LGB youths) showed that bisexual youths were at most risk of heavy drinking compared to lesbian and gay participants. Moreover, LGB heavy drinkers reported higher levels of sensation seeking, earlier age of first alcohol consumption and more positive drinking expectancies compared to binge and social drinkers. Bisexual youths are at most risk of alcohol abuse. It is conceivable that these findings are related to the peculiar discrimination to which bisexual people are subject.

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Why is it important?

Our research seeks to describe alcohol use patterns of LGB youths in Italy, a cultural context where minority sexual stigma in the population is widespread and where LGB adolescents and young adults are at most risk for social exclusion, bullying and family rejection. Results show that there is a difference in drinking habits according to sexual orientation. Bisexuals, in our sample, are more likely to be heavy drinkers than are lesbian and gay people. Public health professionals and health practitioners should pay particular attention to the factors highlighted in our study when tackling drinking problems among LGB youths such as the internalised sexual stigma and the level of stigmatisation on grounds of sexual identity.

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