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Exploring Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use among Queer Adults during the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Pamela Valera

    (Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Madelyn Owens

    (Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Sarah Malarkey

    (Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Nicholas Acuna

    (Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this narrative study is to describe the vaping and smoking characteristics of Queer people ages 18–34 before March of 2020 and to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those behaviors since March of 2020. In total, 31 participants were screened. Thirteen participants were screened prior to the emergence of COVID-19, and 18 were screened when study protocols transitioned to a remote setting (pre and during). Of the 27 eligible participants, a total of 25 participants completed the study. Most participants ( n = 13) self-identified as male, followed by five identified as female, four self-identified as gender non-binary, and three identified as transgender. The most common sexual orientation amongst participants was gay ( n = 10), with bisexual being the second-most reported. Approximately 20 Queer participants reported using cigarettes, 14 participants self-reported using electronic devices, and 11 reported using hookah. Twenty participants reported smoking ten or less, and four self-reported using 11–20 cigarettes per day. Approximately, 92% of participants ( n = 23) indicate that they are using an e-cigarette and regular cigarettes, and 57% of participants ( n = 12) report using one pod or cartridge per day. The three themes that emerged in this study are: (1) Queer people during COVID-19 are experiencing heightened minority stress; (2) Queer people are unfamiliar with smoking cessation; and (3) vaping and smoking are attributed to stress and anxiety. Queer participants are likely to be dual users of cigarette and vaping products. This present study provides increasing evidence that Queer people are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety and using cigarette smoking and vaping to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Pamela Valera & Madelyn Owens & Sarah Malarkey & Nicholas Acuna, 2021. "Exploring Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use among Queer Adults during the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:12919-:d:697296
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stall, R.D. & Greenwood, G.L. & Acree, M. & Paul, J. & Coates, T.J., 1999. "Cigarette smoking among gay and bisexual men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(12), pages 1875-1878.
    2. Hany Elbardan & Ahmed O. Kholeif, 2017. "Enterprise Resource Planning, Corporate Governance and Internal Auditing," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-54990-3, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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