Relationship of Religiosity and Spirituality to Hazardous Drinking, Drug Use, and Depression Among Sexual Minority Women

Laurie Drabble, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Barth B. Riley, Sharon Rostosky, Tonda L. Hughes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using data from Wave 3 of the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study (N = 699), we explored whether religiosity and spirituality were associated with risk of hazardous drinking, drug use, and depression among sexual minority women (SMW; i.e., lesbian, bisexual) and possible differences by race/ethnicity. Participants were more likely to endorse spirituality than religiosity, and endorsement of each was highest among African American SMW. We found no protective effect of religiosity or spirituality for hazardous drinking or drug use. An association initially found between identifying as very spiritual and past-year depression disappeared when controlling for help-seeking. Among SMW with high religiosity, African American SMW were more likely than White SMW to report hazardous drinking. Latina SMW with higher spirituality were more likely than White SMW to report drug use. Results suggest that religiosity and spirituality affect subgroups differently, which should be considered in future research on resiliency among SMW.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1734-1757
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Homosexuality
Volume65
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 10 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA036606 (K. Trocki and L. Drabble PI) and R01AA13328-10 (T. Hughes, PI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors also thank Kelly Martin, University of Illinois and Chicago, for consultation throughout the development of the manuscript and the women who participated in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA036606 (K. Trocki and L. Drabble PI) and 3R01AA13328 (T. Hughes, PI).

Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA036606 (K. Trocki and L. Drabble PI) and 3R01AA13328 (T. Hughes, PI).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis.

Keywords

  • Sexual minority women
  • depression
  • hazardous drinking
  • protective factors
  • religiosity
  • risk factors
  • spirituality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Social Psychology
  • Education
  • Psychology (all)

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