Differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems between transgender- and nontransgender-identified young adults. (1st September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coulter, Robert W.S.; Blosnich, John R.; Bukowski, Leigh A.; Herrick, A.L.; Siconolfi, Daniel E.; Stall, Ron D.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 154(2015)
• Page Start: 251
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2015-09-01
• Subjects: Transgender -- Alcohol use -- Heavy episodic drinking -- Alcohol-related problems -- Violence; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Heavy episodic drinking (HED) differs between transgender and nontransgender people. Sexual assault after drinking is higher for transgender than nontransgender people. Suicidality after drinking is higher for transgender than nontransgender people. For transgender people, sexual assault is associated with greater HED days. For transgender people, verbal threats are associated with greater HED days. Abstract: Background: Little is known about differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related problems between transgender- and nontransgender-identified populations. Using data from a large-scale health survey, we compare the drinking patterns and prevalence of alcohol-related problems of transgender-identified individuals to nontransgender-identified males and females. For transgender-identified people, we examine how various forms of victimization relate to heavy episodic drinking (HED). Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were completed by 75, 192 students aged 18–29 years attending 120 post-secondary educational institutions in the United States from 2011 to 2013. Self-reported measures included alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, victimization, and sociodemographics, including 3 gender-identity groups: transgender-identified individuals; nontransgender-identified males; and nontransgender-identified females. Results: Compared to transgender-identified individuals, nontransgender-identified males were more likely to report HED in the past 2 weeks (relative risk = 1.42; p = 0.006); however, nontransgender-identified males and females reported HED on fewer days than transgender-identified people (incidence-rate ratios [IRRs] ranged from 0.28 to 0.43; p -values < 0.001). Compared to transgender-identified people, nontransgender-identified males and females had lower odds of past-year alcohol-related sexual assault and suicidal ideation (odds ratios ranged from 0.24 to 0.45; p -values < 0.05). Among transgender-identified people, individuals who were sexually assaulted (IRR = 3.21, p = 0.011) or verbally threatened (IRR = 2.42, p = 0.021) in the past year had greater HED days than those who did not experience those forms of victimization. Conclusions: Compared to transgender-identified people, nontransgender-identified males and females: have fewer HED occasions (despite nontransgender-identified males having greater prevalence of HED); and are at lower risk for alcohol-related sexual assaults and suicidal ideation. Experiences of sexual assault and verbal threats are associated with greater HED occasions for transgender-identified people.