Cigarette Use and Vaping Among Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Adolescents Assigned Male at Birth: Patterns of Use and Associations with Demographic and Psychosocial Factors

Abstract

Background: This study described cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs) use and their demographic and psychosocial correlates in a sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents assigned male at birth.

Methods: One-way ANOVA, multivariate linear regression, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine correlates of cigarettes/ENDs use on 159 SGM adolescent users, ages 15-18.

Results: Fifty-three percent of the sample used cigarettes/ENDs, with differences based on sexual orientation: bisexual, pansexual, and queer adolescents used ENDs more than gay adolescents. White adolescents smoked more cigarettes than adolescents of color, independent of ENDs use. Regarding psychosocial correlates, alcohol use and depression were associated with greater daily cigarette use, while sexual orientation identity was associated with greater daily ENDs use.

Conclusions: This study characterized frequency and psychosocial correlates of cigarettes/ENDs use among SGM adolescents. Findings highlighted several risk factors for tobacco use and will inform future interventions for SGM adolescents.