Tobacco use among young lesbian, bisexual and queer-identified women: Considering the “community” in designing interventions and smoking cessation programs

Despite nationwide decreases in tobacco use, a 2010 American Lung Association report highlighted young sexual minority women (YSMW) as having higher rates of cigarette smoking compared to the general population. Given this disparity, we sought to explore awareness of this issue among YSMW and garner their perspectives on how to appropriately implement smoking interventions and cessation programs. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews among lesbian, bisexual and queer- identified women, ages 18-24, half of whom were current smokers. We asked about participants' feelings and attitudes towards smoking, perceptions of smoking within the LGBTQ community, their experiences of discrimination, and desired components in a smoking cessation program. We approached our results using thematic analysis and identified salient themes within the scope of our research questions. Participants voiced diverse viewpoints on the prevalence of smoking among YSMW and the importance of interventions and programming tailored to YSMW. These diverse perceptions were situated by YSMW's identification with and participation in the LGBTQ community, as well as their prior exposure to discrimination. The concept of “LGBTQ community” as a frame for their social networks held little meaning for most participants, which may inform their reluctance to view themselves as belonging to a group identified as “high-risk” for tobacco use. Furthermore, participants expressed concerns that YSMW-focused programming may contribute to further “othering” of individuals who have experienced past discrimination as a result of their same-sex attractions. We discuss the implications of our results in considering appropriate future steps aimed at curbing tobacco use in this population.