Gender Identity, Minority Stress, and Substance Use Among Lesbians

This study explored three research questions. The first asked if there were a relationship between lesbian gender identity and lifetime illicit substance use and alcohol dependence symptoms. Logistic regression models were used to test models predicting lifetime illicit substance use and lifetime alcohol dependence symptoms. Multiple regression was used to test models predicting heterosexist events and internalized homophobia and past-year illicit substance use and alcohol dependence symptoms. Results of the logistic regression analysis indicate that women who described themselves as butch were significantly less likely than women who described themselves as androgynous to report lifetime use of stimulants and club drugs while women who described themselves as femme were significantly more likely than women who described themselves as androgynous to report lifetime use of cocaine. Results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that gender identity was not significantly related to heterosexist events or internalized homophobia. However, heterosexist events was significantly related to past-year illicit substance use and alcohol dependence symptoms, and internalized homophobia was significantly related to past-year alcohol dependence symptoms. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.