TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual minority specific and related traumatic experiences are associated with increased risk for smoking among gay and bisexual men
AU - O'Cleirigh, Conall
AU - Dale, Sannisha K.
AU - Elsesser, Steven
AU - Pantalone, David W.
AU - Mayer, Kenneth H.
AU - Bradford, Judith B.
AU - Safren, Steven A.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge the support from grant R34DA031038 awarded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (MPI: O'Cleirigh, Smits, Zvolensky). We are thankful for the staff and clients of Fenway Institute. The authors of this publication are solely responsible for the content, which does not necessarily represent the views of the acknowledged institutes and centers.
PY - 2015/5/1
Y1 - 2015/5/1
N2 - Objective: This study examined the hypothesis that sexual minority specific stress and trauma histories may explain some of the risk for smoking among gay/bisexual men. Methods: Patients at a Boston community health center were invited to complete a 25-item questionnaire assessing demographics, general health, trauma history, and substance use. Of the 3103 who responded, 1309 identified as male and gay or bisexual (82.8% White and mean age of 38.55 [sd = 9.76]). Results: A multinomial logistic regression with never smoked as referent group and covariates of age, education, employment, HIV status, and race, showed that the number of sexual minority stressors/traumas were significantly related to the odds of both current and former smoking. In comparison to participants with no trauma history, those who reported 1, 2, 3, and 4 traumas had respectively 1.70 (OR = 1.70: 95% CI: 1.24-2.34), 2.19 (OR = 2.19: 95% CI: 1.48-3.23), 2.88 (OR = 2.88: 95% CI: 1.71-4.85), and 6.94 (OR = 6.94: 95% CI: 2.62-18.38) the odds of identifying as a current smoker. Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed a significant dose effect of number of sexual minority stressors/traumas with odds of ever smoking. Experiencing intimate partner violence, anti-gay verbal attack, anti-gay physical attack, and childhood sexual abuse were each independently associated with increased odds of the smoking outcomes. Conclusion: A sexual minority specific trauma history may represent a vulnerability for smoking among gay/bisexual men. Interventions that address trauma may enhance the efficacy of smoking cessation programs and improve the mental health of gay/bisexual men.
AB - Objective: This study examined the hypothesis that sexual minority specific stress and trauma histories may explain some of the risk for smoking among gay/bisexual men. Methods: Patients at a Boston community health center were invited to complete a 25-item questionnaire assessing demographics, general health, trauma history, and substance use. Of the 3103 who responded, 1309 identified as male and gay or bisexual (82.8% White and mean age of 38.55 [sd = 9.76]). Results: A multinomial logistic regression with never smoked as referent group and covariates of age, education, employment, HIV status, and race, showed that the number of sexual minority stressors/traumas were significantly related to the odds of both current and former smoking. In comparison to participants with no trauma history, those who reported 1, 2, 3, and 4 traumas had respectively 1.70 (OR = 1.70: 95% CI: 1.24-2.34), 2.19 (OR = 2.19: 95% CI: 1.48-3.23), 2.88 (OR = 2.88: 95% CI: 1.71-4.85), and 6.94 (OR = 6.94: 95% CI: 2.62-18.38) the odds of identifying as a current smoker. Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed a significant dose effect of number of sexual minority stressors/traumas with odds of ever smoking. Experiencing intimate partner violence, anti-gay verbal attack, anti-gay physical attack, and childhood sexual abuse were each independently associated with increased odds of the smoking outcomes. Conclusion: A sexual minority specific trauma history may represent a vulnerability for smoking among gay/bisexual men. Interventions that address trauma may enhance the efficacy of smoking cessation programs and improve the mental health of gay/bisexual men.
KW - Gay
KW - Men
KW - Sexual minority
KW - Smoking
KW - Trauma
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.02.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.02.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 25754971
AN - SCOPUS:84925872769
VL - 78
SP - 472
EP - 477
JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
SN - 0022-3999
IS - 5
ER -