The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64357

S. Bryn Austin, ScD¹, Najat Ziyadeh, MPH¹, Carlos Arturo Camargo, MD, DrPH², Alison E. Field, ScD¹, Jessica A. Kahn, MD, MPH¹, and Graham A. Colditz, DrPH, MD³. (1) Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 617-355-8194, bryn.austin@tch.harvard.edu, (2) Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Clinics Building 397, Boston, MA 02114, (3) Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Background: Few studies have examined the association between sexual orientation and alcohol use in early and middle adolescence in a national sample. Methods: 1999 data from 10,685 girls and boys participating in the Growing Up Today Study, a national longitudinal cohort study, were examined using multivariable regression analyses. All analyses controlled for age. Results: 92% of the 12 to 17 years olds described themselves as heterosexual (n=9,296), 5% as “mostly heterosexual” (MH; n=511), and 1% as lesbian/gay/bisexual (LGB; n=103). LB girls were more than four times more likely (44%; odds ratio (OR) 4.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6, 8.2) and MH girls three times more likely (34%; OR 2.9; 95% CI 2.3, 3.8) to binge drink compared to heterosexual girls (13%). LB girls (24%; OR 5.3; 95% CI 2.9, 9.8) and MH girls (15%; OR 3.0; 95% CI 2.2, 4.1) also were significantly more likely to report drinking alcohol before the age of 12 compared to heterosexual girls (6%). Compared to heterosexual boys (14%), GB boys (30%; OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.0, 4.6) and MH boys (26%; OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2, 2.9) were both two times more likely to report binge drinking. MH boys were two times more likely to report drinking alcohol before the age of 12 (17%; OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.5, 3.8) compared to heterosexual boys (8%). Conclusions: Binge drinking was more common in LGB and “mostly heterosexual” girls and boys compared to heterosexual peers.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to:
• 1. Describe the current evidence documenting sexual orientation group differences in alcohol use in adolescent girls and boys.
• 2. Describe the findings of the Growing Up Today Study regarding sexual orientation group differences in alcohol use.
• 3. Identify areas in need of more intensive research to explain sexual orientation group differences in alcohol use that may eventually inform more effective alcohol use prevention programs for sexual minority youth.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.