QSOX Queer Women's Substance Use Over Time: Briefing Paper 1 - LBQ Women and Alcohol

<p dir="ltr">Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women consistently report higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine use than heterosexual women, yet there has been limited qualitative research exploring why these patterns exist, how they evolve, and what they mean in women’s lives. Most existing studies focus on risk, often framing LBQ women’s substance use through a lens of harm or deficit. These narratives frequently draw on the concept of minority stress, the chronic stress experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people due to discrimination and stigma, as the primary explanation for increased substance use. While minority stress is one important aspect of LBQ women’s substance use, this explanation alone does not tell the whole story for everyone.<br><br>The QSOX (Queer Women’s Substance Use Over Time) study was designed to develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of LBQ women and non-binary people’s experiences of alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine use in Australia. Funded by the Australian Research Council (LP210100122) and conducted alongside the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, and in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health, ACON, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, Quit Victoria, and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, this is the first longitudinal qualitative study to explore changes in LBQ women and non-binary people’s substance use over time. Specifically, the project aimed to address the following research questions:<br>1. What is the role of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine use in the social and cultural lives of Australian LBQ women and non-binary people?<br>2. How do LBQ women and non-binary people understand, construct, and manage the potential risks and harms of alcohol and tobacco use over time?<br>3. What are LBQ women and non-binary people’s experiences and perceptions of smoking cessation and alcohol-related support services?</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">© La Trobe University 2025</p>