PREDICTORS OF INCREASED ALCOHOL AND SEDATIVES/HYPNOTICS USE AMONG YOUNG ADULT LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A FOUR-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use are prevalent among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals, but very few prospective studies have examined the predictors of increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in LGB individuals. The aims of this 4-year follow-up study were to examine the predictive effects of demographics, sexual stigma, self-identity confusion, anxiety, depression, and perceived family function before the COVID-19 pandemic on increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in a group young adult LGB individuals experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

The data of demographics, sexual stigma (i.e., perceived sexual stigma from family members, internalized sexual stigma, and sexual microaggression), self-identity confusion (i.e., disturbed identity, unconsolidated identity, and lack of identity), anxiety, depression, and perceived family function of 1,000 LGB individuals were collected in 2018 and 2019. Participants’ alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use were surveyed four years later. Participants were asked to compare the amounts of alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use before the COVID-19 pandemic and at follow-up. The associations of sexual stigma, self-identity confusion, depression, anxiety, and perceived family function at baseline with increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use at follow-up were examined using logistic regression analysis.

In total, 673 (67.3%) participants agreed participating the follow-up study. Forty-five (6.7%) and 21 (3.1%) participants reported increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use, respectively. Greater sexual microaggression were significantly associated increased alcohol use. Greater unconsolidated identity, lack of identity, depression, and anxiety were significantly associated increased sedatives/hypnotics use.

Factors that predicted increased alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use differed. Intervention strategies for reducing alcohol and sedatives/hypnotics use in LGB individuals should be developed with consideration of the predictors identified in this study.

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