Poster #187 - Substance Use and Risk & Protective Factors Among Gender Minority Youth from Rural Middle Schools

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Sex, Gender

Integrative Statement

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) adolescents are at a greater risk for substance use, depression, suicide, and other risk behaviors (NIDA, 2017; Russell & Fish, 2016). While research on health outcomes among sexual minorities and gender minorities is becoming more prevalent, most of this work has focused on sexual minorities (LGB individuals) with less known about gender minorities (transgender or non-binary youth). This study evaluates self-reports of current substance use among gender minorities compared to their peers from a rural county in the Southeastern United States. We also evaluate differences between these groups in reports of risk and protective factors related to substance use.

The sample includes 3,169 students recruited from all middle schools in a rural county in the Southeastern United States, with an average age of 12.7 (SD = 1.14). Participants were assessed twice during a single academic year, as part of a pregnancy prevention program. Surveys included information on demographics, risk and protective factors, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use. The crrent study evaluates substance use and other risk and protective factors. Gender was assessed by asking students to select either male or female. Upon review of the data, a number of write-in responses were noted (e.g. selected both genders, this does not apply), as well as inconsistent reporting of gender across both times of assessment (n = 38). Students also reported current (past 30 day) alcohol use, binge drinking, and marijuana use. These variables were dichotomized to identify youth who reported any current substance use across both times of assessment versus students who consistently reported non-use. Response options for risk and protective factors ranged from none/never to all of the time/almost every day with higher values indicating higher frequency of the risk or protective factor.

Gender minority students reported significantly higher substance use compared to their peers, including alcohol use, X2 (1, N = 1,471) = 17.446, p <.001, binge drinking, X2 (1, N = 1,464) = 24.207, p <.001, and marijuana use, X2 (1, N = 1,463) = 12.436, p <.001 (See Figure 1). Results also indicated that gender minority students reported spending more unsupervised time with mixed gender peers, lower levels of caring about doing well in school, lower levels of friendships that kept them out of trouble, lower levels of resisting or saying no to peer pressure, and lower levels of making healthy decisions about drugs or alcohol compared to their peers (see Table 1).

Despite not directly aiming to evaluate gender minority youth, the results of this study are consistent with other research on health disparities for LGBTQ youth and extend this work into rural/conservative communities. The small sample of gender minority youth is a clear limitation; however, given the dearth of knowledge in this area these findings have important implications for future research. The surfacing of the self-identified gender minority adolescent sub-population highlights changing demographic trends and emphasizes the need for direct measurement of these vulnerable groups.

Authors

• Tara Mercurio, University of Florida
  Presenting Author

• Sarah D. Lynne, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Allison S. Metz, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emily M Davison, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Julia A. Graber, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author