Religiosity and Alcohol Use in Sexual Minority and HeterosexualYouth and Young Adults

摘要

Despite interest in the role of religiosity inyouth development and health behavior, few studies haveexamined these associations in sexual minority youth.Participants (n = 11,699) who were adolescents (wave 1)and young adults (wave 3) in the Add Health survey wereused to examine proximal and distal religiosity by sexualidentity group and to test group differences in associationsbetween religiosity and alcohol use. Sexual minorities wereless likely than heterosexuals to report a current religiousaffiliation. In young adulthood, heterosexual femalesreported significantly higher distal and proximal religiositythan heterosexual males and sexual minority young adults.From adolescence to young adulthood, religiosity in allthree sexual identity groups (heterosexual, bisexual, gay/lesbian) significantly declined, with the largest effectsfound for the sexual minority groups. Distal and proximalreligiosity scores were significantly associated with lessalcohol use and less binge drinking among heterosexuals,but not among sexual minorities. Future studies of sexualminority youth and their religious contexts are suggested.