Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Justine Ray Dissertation for ETD.pdf (1020.24 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Minority Stress and Substance Use in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Adults: An Exploration of Outness and Family Attachment

Ray, Justine Michelle
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1477949207825152

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
The minority stress model (Meyer, 1995, 2003) may explain the higher rates of substance use found in some lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and questioning (LGBQ) individuals compared to non-LGBQ individuals. Guided by the model and previous research, I examined whether outness about one’s sexual orientation and attachment to family of origin moderated the relationship between minority stress and substance use in LGBQ adults. To evaluate my hypotheses, I recruited two samples of LGBQ participants, one using social media (N=341) and another using a classified ad website (N=180), to answer questions about their drug and alcohol use, level of outness, experiences of minority stress, and attachment to family of origin. As predicted, higher levels of minority stress were significantly, albeit weakly, correlated with higher rates of substance use. However, contrary to expectations, stronger family attachment and higher level of outness were not associated with lower substance use in either sample. Instead, participants who reported higher levels of outness were more likely to report problem drug use. Because reported substance use was considerably lower than I expected in both samples, my study may not have provided a sensitive test of the hypotheses. The results could indicate that rates of substance use by LGBQ individuals are declining, and failed to support the hypothesis that strong family attachment is associated with lower rates of substance use in LGBQ adults.Further research should evaluate how LGBQ people mitigate minority stress other than by self medicating with alcohol and drug use.
Carolyn Tompsett, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Harold Rosenberg, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Michael Zickar, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Francisco Cabanillas, Ph.D. (Other)
81 p.
Clinical Psychology; Psychology
minority stress; minority stress model; outness; substance use; lesbian; gay; bisexual; queer; LGBQ; family attachment; family of origin

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ray, J. M. (2016). Minority Stress and Substance Use in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Adults: An Exploration of Outness and Family Attachment [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1477949207825152

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ray, Justine. Minority Stress and Substance Use in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Adults: An Exploration of Outness and Family Attachment . 2016. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1477949207825152.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ray, Justine. "Minority Stress and Substance Use in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Adults: An Exploration of Outness and Family Attachment ." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1477949207825152

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1477949207825152
1,253
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.