Substance Use Treatment Practitioners’ Levels of Homonegativity, Binegativity, and Transnegativity and their Correlates
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Sara Matsuzaka
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 11:15 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 12:15 PM
Description
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the United States have an elevated risk for substance use disorder relative to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (Connolly & Gilchrist, 2020; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023). The minority stress theory explains this disparity as resulting from LGBT people’s exposure to anti-LGBT stigma and discrimination (Meyer, 2003). Substance use treatment practitioners have a front-line role in serving LGBT people with substance use disorder. Yet, prior studies examining homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity among substance use treatment practitioners are limited in scope, methods, and temporal relevance to the current sociocultural and policy landscapes towards LGBT people in the United States (Cochran et al., 2007; Eliason, 2000; Eliason & Hughes, 2004; Hellman, 1989). Thus, in partnership with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, we conducted an online survey of 225 practitioners examining levels of homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity and their demographic and socio-political correlates. Results showed that levels of homonegativity were lower than those of binegativity and transnegativity. Educational attainment, connectedness to LGBT people, and having a liberal political identity were associated with lower homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity, while religiosity was associated with higher scores in all categories. Addressing substance use treatment practitioners’ stigma toward LGBT people, particularly bisexual and transgender people, should be prioritized. Author’s Notes: This study was made possible by a Montclair State University FY24 Separately Budgeted Research (SBR) grant awarded to Dr. Sara Matsuzaka, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy. A portion of the funding was allocated towards my participation in this research project as a student researcher.
Substance Use Treatment Practitioners’ Levels of Homonegativity, Binegativity, and Transnegativity and their Correlates
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the United States have an elevated risk for substance use disorder relative to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (Connolly & Gilchrist, 2020; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023). The minority stress theory explains this disparity as resulting from LGBT people’s exposure to anti-LGBT stigma and discrimination (Meyer, 2003). Substance use treatment practitioners have a front-line role in serving LGBT people with substance use disorder. Yet, prior studies examining homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity among substance use treatment practitioners are limited in scope, methods, and temporal relevance to the current sociocultural and policy landscapes towards LGBT people in the United States (Cochran et al., 2007; Eliason, 2000; Eliason & Hughes, 2004; Hellman, 1989). Thus, in partnership with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, we conducted an online survey of 225 practitioners examining levels of homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity and their demographic and socio-political correlates. Results showed that levels of homonegativity were lower than those of binegativity and transnegativity. Educational attainment, connectedness to LGBT people, and having a liberal political identity were associated with lower homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity, while religiosity was associated with higher scores in all categories. Addressing substance use treatment practitioners’ stigma toward LGBT people, particularly bisexual and transgender people, should be prioritized. Author’s Notes: This study was made possible by a Montclair State University FY24 Separately Budgeted Research (SBR) grant awarded to Dr. Sara Matsuzaka, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy. A portion of the funding was allocated towards my participation in this research project as a student researcher.