TY - JOUR
T1 - Differentiating LGBT individuals in substance abuse treatment
T2 - Analyses based on sexuality and drug preference
AU - Cochran, Bryan N.
AU - Peavy, K. Michelle
AU - Santa, Annesa Flentje
PY - 2008/2/14
Y1 - 2008/2/14
N2 - In a prior study (Cochran Cauce, 2006), LGBT individuals seeking treatment demonstrated greater substance use severity, more psychosocial stressors, and increased use of psychiatric services when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. That study, and similar to others in the field of LGBT research, collapsed LGBT individuals into a single category and did not examine individual differences within this category. The present study utilizes the same sample of LGBT clients (N = 610); however, an exploratory cluster analysis was conducted, based on drug preference, to determine which subcategories exist within this unique sample. In a subsequent set of analyses, the sample was divided based on sexuality to determine if there were differences between these groups on psychosocial functioning variables. Results indicated three distinct clusters, which differed in both demographic characteristics and severity of substance use problems. Groups based on sexuality differed in terms of primary problem substance, as well as psychosocial variables. Implications for treatment of these subgroups are discussed.
AB - In a prior study (Cochran Cauce, 2006), LGBT individuals seeking treatment demonstrated greater substance use severity, more psychosocial stressors, and increased use of psychiatric services when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. That study, and similar to others in the field of LGBT research, collapsed LGBT individuals into a single category and did not examine individual differences within this category. The present study utilizes the same sample of LGBT clients (N = 610); however, an exploratory cluster analysis was conducted, based on drug preference, to determine which subcategories exist within this unique sample. In a subsequent set of analyses, the sample was divided based on sexuality to determine if there were differences between these groups on psychosocial functioning variables. Results indicated three distinct clusters, which differed in both demographic characteristics and severity of substance use problems. Groups based on sexuality differed in terms of primary problem substance, as well as psychosocial variables. Implications for treatment of these subgroups are discussed.
KW - Cluster analysis
KW - LGBT
KW - Sexual minority
KW - Substance abuse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650599580&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1300/J463v03n02_07
DO - 10.1300/J463v03n02_07
M3 - Article
C2 - 19835042
AN - SCOPUS:67650599580
SN - 1557-4091
VL - 3
SP - 63
EP - 75
JO - Journal of LGBT Health Research
JF - Journal of LGBT Health Research
IS - 2
ER -