Associations of Adult Roles and Minority Stressors With Trajectories of Alcohol Dependence Symptoms Throughout Adulthood Among Sexual Minority Women

Amelia E. Talley, Cindy Veldhuis, Melanie M. Wall, Sharon C. Wilsnack, Bethany G. Everett, Tonda L. Hughes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)559-570
Number of pages12
JournalPsychology of Addictive Behaviors
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 18 2022

Keywords

  • alcohol use disorder
  • bisexual
  • drinking
  • lesbian
  • longitudinal

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