Associations Between Having a Spouse/Partner with Alcohol Problems and One's Own Risk of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders by Sexual Orientation.

INTRODUCTION

The association between an individual's alcohol misuse and their spouse's/partner's behavioral health is well documented. Whether these associations vary by sexual orientation is unknown.

METHODS

We used data from the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III; n = 36,309 U.S. adults ≥18 years). Using multivariable logistic regression models, we examined the associations between sexual orientation (heterosexual-identified with concordant attraction/behavior, heterosexual-identified with discordant attraction/behavior, gay/lesbian, and bisexual) and having a lifetime history of spouse/partner with alcohol problems with lifetime DSM-5 alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, any substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and comorbid mental health and SUDs. We conducted two-way interaction tests between history of spouse/partner with alcohol problems and sexual orientation for each outcome.

RESULTS

The prevalence of a history of spouse/partner with problem drinking varied by sex and sexual orientation, ranging from 28.8% (bisexual females) to 9.1% (bisexual males). Having a history of a spouse/partner with alcohol problems was associated with increased odds of each outcome (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] range: 1.6 to 2.3, p < 0.001). All sexual minority subgroups had increased odds of each outcome (AOR range: 1.3 to 3.2, p < 0.001), relative to their heterosexual concordant counterparts. Our interaction tests were not significant at the p < 0.001 level; the effect of having a spouse/partner with alcohol problems is similar across sexual orientation subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the importance of sexual orientation and having a history of a spouse/partner with alcohol problems as part of the assessment and treatment of mental health and SUDs.