A recent study shows that people from the LGBT+ community, are more likely to smoke than heterosexuals. However, a new study considers the difference between heterosexuals, homosexuals, and bisexuals and their smoking habits. Through this approach, they reveal differences in the LGBT+ community when it comes to smoking habits.

 

About the Study

The study is a first-of-its-kind inquiry because it separates heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual participants. That is, during the study members of the mentioned group were considered as separate fields of interest. Until now the practice was to group all LGBT+ identities into a single category that is separate from heterosexuals. However, this does not give a truthful image of all the participants in the study.

The study in question comes from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSHP). Furthermore, it is a cohort study with 7843 participants and it lasted three years. The study aimed to determine if coming out impacts the chance that someone will start smoking. Furthermore, they want to establish why members of the LGBT+ community show a greater tendency for addictive behavior. Not only that, but previous research also indicates that they have worst mental health outcomes than the members of the heterosexual community.

 

The Results

Findings from the research show that people with a bisexual identity smoke on average 50% more than heterosexuals and homosexuals. Also, bisexuals smoke more when they are coming out than the other two groups. These findings suggest that bisexual people are under more stress, especially during the coming out phase.

Besides the results from the study, the paper in question argues that better differentiation is necessary when experts study sexual minorities. That is, the practice of grouping all minorities into a single research group gives partial information. Further studies of this kind should consider differentiating between the various groups to gain valid and detailed insight.

 

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Main Takeaways
  • A new study shows bisexuals are more likely than heterosexuals and homosexuals to smoke when coming out.
  • Until now all sexual minorities were placed in the same group without differentiation. This approach gave the wrong picture of the LGBT+ community and the state of their health.
 
Sources

[Related Journal Article] Association of Coming Out as Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual+ and Risk of Cigarette Smoking in a Nationally Representative Sample of Youth and Young Adults

Coming out as bisexual associated with increased risk of smoking: BU study