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Smith Dissertation FINAL.pdf (740.3 KB)

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Sexual Minority Women and Lifetime Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder

Smith, Jennifer
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1565393840558153

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology.
Sexual minority women demonstrate higher rates of Alcohol Use Disorder, or AUD, compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Factors that potentially impact how likely a sexual minority woman is to develop an AUD during her lifetime has received limited attention in existing research. These include sexual minority stress, stress and cognitive appraisal, and hardiness theories. While many factors are suggested, and some supported, no consistent risk or protective factors have emerged. This study sought to change that by testing whether proposed risk and protective factors for stress, both in general and unique to sexual minority individuals, impacted the likelihood of the development of an AUD. Sexual minority stress was explored as a potential risk factor while hardiness was proposed as a potential protective factor. Stress appraisal was explored as both a potential risk and protective factor. Quantitative data was collected from a previously conducted study that utilized self-report surveys. Participants were recruited by distributing the online survey via email to LBGT+ organizations and listservs across North America. Data was collected from lesbian and bisexual identified women (n = 344) from a larger study on substance use in sexual minority individuals. Correlational and regressional analyses were conducted. Of the proposed risk and protective factors (hardiness, bisexual minority stress, stress appraisal, and sexual minority stress), none were found to significantly impact lifetime AUD risk (as measured by the AUDIT). Strengths, limitations, clinical implications, and research recommendations are presented in the discussion section.
Michelle Vaughan, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Jeremiah Schumm, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Daniela Burnworth, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
100 p.
Psychology
sexual minority; women; lesbian; bisexual; alcohol; alcohol use disorder

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, J. (2020). Sexual Minority Women and Lifetime Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1565393840558153

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Jennifer. Sexual Minority Women and Lifetime Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder. 2020. Wright State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1565393840558153.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Jennifer. "Sexual Minority Women and Lifetime Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1565393840558153

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wsupsych1565393840558153
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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University Professional Psychology Program and OhioLINK.