Binegativity and Depression: Examining Alcohol Use Among Nonexclusively-Oriented Womxn

Purpose: Alcohol use disorders can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, domestic violence, and even death (Carvalho, Andre F, et al. 2019). Gender and sexual minorities (GSM; non-cisgender and nonheterosexual individuals) report elevated rates of alcohol use (“Sexual Orientation Differences”, 2013), although nonexclusively-oriented womxn (NOW; womxn-identified people attracted to more than one gender)(womxn - terminology encompassing all women identified individuals; more inclusive for transgender and nonbinary individuals) in particular report higher rates of alcohol misuse. NOW also report higher rates of depression than other sexual minority groups (Feinstein & Dyar, 2017). Minority stress theory conceptualizes health disparities as consequences of the increased stress of having a socially-stigmatized identity. Nonexclusively oriented individuals experience unique bi-negative minority stressors and elevated depression symptoms that may explain high alcohol misuse rates. This project investigates the associations between relevant bi-negative minority stressors (Meyer, 2003; Yost & Thomas, 2012), depression symptoms, and alcohol use disorder symptoms (AUD), in order to inform prevention and treatment for this at-risk population. Methods: NOW (n = 219), were recruited using social media and completed an online survey. We conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to examine the relationships between bi-negative stress (distal and proximal), depression symptoms, and alcohol use disorder symptoms. Covariates (age, college student status, and education level), bi-negative minority stressors (proximal and distal), and depression symptoms were entered in separate steps predicting alcohol use disorder symptoms. Covariates (Adj. R2 = 0.127), bi-negative minority stressors, and depression (Adj. R2 = 0.210) accounted for 33.7% of the variance in alcohol disorder symptoms. Proximal bi-negative minority stress was positively related to alcohol disorder symptoms (B = 0.491, p < 0.001), and depression symptoms (B = ...