Examining the impact of daily discrimination on alcohol use among racially diverse, trauma-exposed sexually minoritized adults: A pilot study

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-4-2023

Journal

Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy

DOI

10.1037/tra0001577

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Identity-based stress and trauma are key drivers of alcohol use-related health inequities among minoritized people. Research on intersectional experiences of identity-based stress and alcohol use among trauma-exposed minoritized people is scant. This pilot study used a 30-day diary design to examine the effect of identity-based discrimination exposure on alcohol use in a racially diverse sample of trauma-exposed sexual minoritized (SM) adults ( = 47; 63.8% cisgender female; 65.2% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC]). METHOD: Multilevel logistic regression models were used to evaluate whether days marked by any (vs. no) identity-based discrimination were concurrently or prospectively associated with increased likelihood of reporting a higher (vs. lower) level of drinking-and whether these associations differed by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Discrimination was associated with increased likelihood of reporting a higher level of same-day drinking ( = 0.91, = .03), but did not predict next-day drinking. BIPOC (vs. White) individuals were less likely to report a higher drinking level on or following nondiscrimination days (s = -2.18 to -1.52, s ≤ .005), but more likely to do so on or following discrimination days (s = 1.13-1.60, s ≤ .03). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that everyday discrimination may create insidious risk for coping-motivated alcohol use among SM BIPOC, a subgroup that otherwise exhibits resilience with respect to drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Department

Epidemiology

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