Similarities and Differences in Substance Use Patterns Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Mexican Adult Smokers.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the patterns of smoking, e-cigarette use, other substance use (alcohol and marijuana), and depression by sexual orientation in a sample of Mexican adult smokers.

Methods

Data came from a 2018-2020 (six waves) online survey of adult smokers, recruited from a commercial research panel (92.5% heterosexual, n = 4786; 3.1% lesbian/gay, n = 160; and 4.4% bisexual, n = 229). After stratifying the data by sex, logistic, multinomial, and linear logistic regression models were estimated (depending on the outcome), including as independent variables sexual orientation (i.e., gay/lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual = Reference), age, education, household income, and wave.

Results

Being a gay male was independently associated with greater smoking dependence (β = 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02 to 0.39), greater likelihood of preference for flavored capsule cigarettes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.33 to 3.28), and depression diagnosis (AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.64 to 4.95). Bisexual males had higher e-cigarette dependence (β = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.68, among dual users only) and were more likely to have been diagnosed with depression (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.30 to 4.18). Lesbian females were more likely to prefer menthol cigarettes (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.60 to 6.86), to have used marijuana more than once (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.83 to 5.72), and to have depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.04 to 3.29). Bisexual females had a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.56) and depression diagnosis (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.43 to 3.42).

Conclusion

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adult smokers in Mexico appear more likely than heterosexual adult smokers to report having depression. Substance use and depression among sexual minority populations need to be addressed further.