Sex and Sexual Identity Differences in Poly-tobacco Use and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults: R
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Harper
LA, Beck KC, Drazdowski TK, Li C.
Sex and Sexual Identity
Differences in Poly-tobacco Use and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults:
Results from the National Health Interview Survey.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2023 Jan 1;25(1):19-27. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac180. PMID:
35894290; PMCID: PMC9717376.
Introduction: Poly-tobacco
use (PTU), or the concomitant use of two or more nicotine and tobacco products,
are a growing public health concern. Adults reporting increased psychological
distress (PD) experience profound nicotine and tobacco health-related
disparities. Sexual minority (SM) adults report more PTU and higher levels of
PD than heterosexuals, yet little is known about patterns of nicotine and
tobacco use and its relationship to PD in SM populations.
Aims and methods: The
purpose of this study was to investigate sexual identity differences in PD and
PTU. Data were drawn from the 2016-2018 National Health Interview Survey (N =
83 017), an annual cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample
of U.S. adults. PD was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
(K6). We fit sex-stratified, weighted, adjusted logistic models to compare PTU
and PD by sexual identity.
Results: PTU
was more prevalent in adults with higher K6 scores. Female adults and SM adults
had significantly higher K6 scores and were significantly more likely to
experience serious PD when compared to their male and heterosexual
counterparts.
Conclusions: The
current study provides a snapshot of trends in PTU in relation to PD, gender,
and sexual identity. Findings suggest higher rates of both PD and PTU in SM
adults. Further research examining the mechanisms underlying this disparity is
critical to the development of effective intervention and prevention
strategies.
Implications: Little
is known about sex and sexual identity differences in the relations between
patterns of tobacco product use and PD. This study is the first to examine the
effect of gender and sexual identity on both PD and PTU. SMs reported higher
rates of PD and were more likely to be poly-tobacco users. As new ways of
engaging nicotine/tobacco continue to proliferate, health risks will endure
especially for marginalized populations. An increased understanding of the
psychological and social correlates of PTU in SMs is warranted.
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