title: Sexual-orientation differences in drinking patterns and use of drinking contexts among college students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests there are important sexual-orientation differences in alcohol consumption, particularly among women. Little is known about where gay/lesbian and bisexual college students drink or differences in drinking patterns derived from graduated frequency measures between heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and bisexual students. The goal of this analysis was to examine patterns of alcohol consumption-including drinking prevalence, quantity, frequency, and contexts of use-by sexual orientation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on sexual identity, gender, drinking behaviors, and drinking contexts were examined from repeated cross-sectional samples of undergraduate students attending 14 public California universities from 2003-2011 (n=58,903). Multivariable statistical techniques were employed to examine sexual-orientation differences stratified by gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gay males, lesbians, and bisexual females were significantly more likely to report drinking alcohol in the current semester than their same-gender heterosexual peers (relative risks ranged from 1.07 to 1.10, p-values <0.01). Among current drinkers, bisexual females consumed 7 or more drinks and lesbians consumed 10 or more drinks on significantly more days than heterosexual females. On the other hand, gay male drinkers consumed 8 or more drinks on significantly fewer days than heterosexual male drinkers. Compared to their same-gender heterosexual peers: lesbian/gay and bisexual students drank less frequently at Greek parties (incidence rate ratios [IRRs] ranged from 0.52 to 0.73, p-values <0.01); lesbians (IRR=0.84, p=0.043) and bisexual males (IRR=0.82, p=0.009) drank less frequently at off-campus parties; and gay males drank more frequently outdoors (IRR=1.63, p<0.001) and at bars/restaurants (IRR=1.21, p=0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol prevention programs and future research should consider sexual-orientation differences in drinking patterns and use of drinking contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States. Electronic address: robert.ws.coulter@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Robert W S
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Coulter
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa,145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Miesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzell
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, 180 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612, United States.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for LGBT Health Research, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stall
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use; Drinking contexts; Gender; Graduated frequency measures; Sexual orientation
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