Associations Among Minority Stress, Relaxation and Tension-Reduction Motives, and Cannabis Use Among a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults in Oklahoma.
| Journal | Substance use & addiction journal |
| Study Type | Clinical Study |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Despite well-documented cannabis use disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM; vs heterosexual and/or cisgender) adults, less is known regarding associations of minority stressors, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use outcomes among SGM individuals. Data were from a repeated online cross-sectional survey of SGM-identifying adults in Oklahoma (n = 430; 67% female). Multivariable regressions examined associations of: (1) minority stressors (ie, discrimination, internalized stigma, community acceptance/safety, time spent in SGM spaces) with relaxation/tension-reduction cannabis use motives; and (2) minority stress factors and relaxation/tension-reduction motives with cannabis use behaviors (ie, past-month use, daily/near-daily use, possible cannabis use disorder [CUD]) among females and males, separately. Among female SGM adults, discrimination was associated with more relaxation/tension-reduction motives, which were associated with higher odds of daily/near-daily use and possi
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
Who was surveyed in this Oklahoma study of minority stress and cannabis?
The data came from a repeated online cross-sectional survey of 430 adults in Oklahoma who identified as sexual and gender minority (SGM), 67% of them female. The study responds to well-documented cannabis use disparities among SGM adults and to limited knowledge about how minority stress and cannabis use motives relate to cannabis use.
Which kinds of minority stress did the researchers examine?
The study looked at four minority stressors: discrimination, internalized stigma, community acceptance and safety, and time spent in SGM spaces. Researchers examined how these related to relaxation and tension-reduction motives for using cannabis, and how both the stressors and those motives related to cannabis use behaviors.
Which cannabis use outcomes did the Oklahoma study measure?
The study measured three cannabis use behaviors: past-month use, daily or near-daily use, and possible cannabis use disorder. Using multivariable regressions, researchers examined whether minority stress factors and relaxation or tension-reduction motives were associated with these behaviors, analyzing female and male participants separately.
Was discrimination linked to heavier cannabis use among female SGM adults?
The summary describes associations in two steps. Among female SGM adults, discrimination was associated with more relaxation and tension-reduction motives for using cannabis, and those motives were associated with higher odds of daily or near-daily use. These are cross-sectional associations and do not show that discrimination causes heavier use.
