New study reveals LGBTQ+ youth are vaping to cope - LGBTQ Nation

A study finds vaping among LGBTQ+ youth is driven by social and community factors rather than a direct link to sexual or gender identity. About 1.63 million middle and high school students in the United States vape. Nicotine use is higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth than among straight peers, and trans and gender-diverse youth face even greater risks. Disparities mirror broader substance use patterns, including higher rates of smoking, alcohol, and cannabis. Two pathways are identified: minority stress-related coping and socialization and identity. Bullying, social isolation, and stigma increase psychological distress and contribute to vaping as a coping behavior, while social pressure also encourages use.

"Authors of the study, led by George Mason University PhD in public health student Omolayo Anjorin, say vape use isn't linked directly to young people's sexual or gender identity. Instead, social and community factors are the driving force behind LGBTQ+ young people's use of e-cigarettes."

"Research showed two factors driving the disparity: a so-called "minority stress-related coping pathway" and "a socialization and identity pathway." Researchers say stresses related to the treatment of LGBTQ+ youth - factors like bullying, social isolation, and overall stigma - drive gay, lesbian and trans youth to vape as a coping mechanism."

""The stigma and discrimination associated with identifying as a sexual or gender minority elevates psychological distress and contributes to negative coping behaviors like vaping," Anjorin says. LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of bullying, rejection, and violence than their straight peers, and, as likely minorities at home, face more isolation among their families."

"Previous research has found that the use of all forms of nicotine is higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth compared to their straight peers. 14.4% of straight youth use nicotine, while 21.5% of gay and lesbian youth and 18.1% of bisexual young people take up the habit. Trans and gender-diverse young people show "even more disproportionate risks," the authors wrote."

Read at LGBTQ Nation