Sex While Intoxicated: A Meta-Analysis Comparing Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth

Herrick, Amy L.; Marshal, Michael P.; Smith, Helen A.; Sucato, Gina; Stall, Ron D.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.07.008

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 48, Issue 3 , Pages 306-309, March 2011

Sex While Intoxicated: A Meta-Analysis Comparing Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth

Amy L. Herrick, M.A.
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Research on Health and Sexual Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Address correspondence to: Amy Herrick, M.A., Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 224C Parran Hall, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Michael P. Marshal, Ph.D.
- Center for Research on Health and Sexual Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Helen A. Smith, Ph.D.
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Research on Health and Sexual Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Gina Sucato, M.D., Ph.D.
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ron D. Stall, Ph.D.
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Research on Health and Sexual Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Received 9 December 2009; accepted 9 July 2010. published online 02 September 2010.

Abstract

Background

The social marginalization and victimization experienced by sexual minority youth (SMY) may lead to increased risk behaviors and higher rates of negative health outcomes compared with their heterosexual peers.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis to examine whether SMY reported higher rates of sex while intoxicated. Studies that report rates of substance use during sex in both SMY and heterosexual youth and had a mean participant age of 18 or less were included in our meta-analysis. Effect sizes were extracted from six studies (nine independent data sets and 24 effect sizes) that met study criteria and had high inter-rater reliability (.98).

Results

Results indicated that SMY were almost twice as likely to report sex while intoxicated as compared with heterosexual peers. A random-effects meta-analysis showed a moderate ([overall weighted effect OR] = 1.91, p < .0001) weighted effect size for the relationship between sexual orientation and the use of drugs at the time of sexual intercourse, with the mean effect size for each study ranging from 1.21 to 3.50 and individual effect sizes ranging from .35 to 9.86.

Discussion

Our findings highlight the need for healthcare providers to screen SMY for participation in substance use during sexual intercourse and to offer risk reduction counseling during office visits.

Keywords: LGBT health, Adolescent health, Health disparities, Adolescent sexual health