Teenage lesbians have worst rates of smoking - But why?

[astro]

It’s true! They smoke like chimneys! Why?! Is it the menthol?

Teenage lesbians have worst rates of smoking

Teenage lesbian or bisexual girls are many times more likely to smoke regularly than straight girls their age. They are the worst hit by tobacco among all groups of young people, according to a new US study.

Almost 40 per cent of teenage lesbian or bisexual girls aged between 12 and 17 said they smoked weekly compared with just six per cent of heterosexual girls in an ongoing study of 16,000 adolescents.

However, these high rates were not seen in gay or bisexual boys, who were no more likely to smoke than straight boys.

Lesbian and bisexual girls were also 60 per cent more likely than heterosexual girls to say they would use tobacco-promoting merchandise like hats and T-shirts.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

Well, they won’t get pregnant, they’re far, far less likely to get HIV, and there’s less partner abuse. I guess some sort of risky behavior is required in the teen years.

Seriously, I have no idea.

Yes, that was less than helpful. I’ve had a hard day.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Would I permanently offend every Teen on the face of the planet if I suggested that they were simply patterning themselves after adults?

“There certainly have been a number of anecdotal reports that there are higher smoking rates in the gay community among adults,” says Amanda Sandford, research manager at the UK’s Action on Smoking and Health campaign group.

http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/108121928068094251677/news/?record=554&trycookie=1

**Lesbians and Gays More Likely to Smoke, Survey Says
by Sarah Albert

When compared with all adults, lesbians and gays are more likely to smoke, according to a survey released May 14, conducted by Harris Interactive and Witeck Combs Communications. And lack of education about associated health risks doesn’t seem to explain the disparity in rates – of those surveyed, LGBT participants were most aware of the health risks of smoking.

About 36 percent of adults aged 18 and over who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender report that they smoke cigarettes, compared with 25 percent of all adults, according to the survey results. Seventy-five percent of LGBT smokers say they have tried to give it up, compared with 80 percent of all adults.

< snip >

“In the April 2001 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, a meta-analysis by Dr. Susan Cochran, et al, confirms the Harris survey conclusions. According to the article, ‘after standardization, both the current and previous smoking rates among lesbians greatly exceeded national norms for women,’” she says.**

[Splanky]

Maybe it’s stress induced to some extent? There’s a lot of pressure on gays, and it’s probably worse on gay women.

[Little_Nemo]

Because teenage lesbians are way cooler than the other kids.

[toque]

A lot of young lesbians are into a blue collar masculine look these days- trucker hat, PBR, tattoos, cigarette. I imagine teenagers have easiest access to the hat and the Marlboros.

[alaricthegoth]

Because teenage lesbians are way cooler than the other kids.

they dance better, too

[KellyM]

It’s been my experience (completely unverified, of course) that a majority of transgendered individuals smoke. I’m not quite sure why this is.

[The_Griffin]

Because they feel the urge to put something in their mouth like any other girl.

[The_Griffin]

@KellyM

It’s been my experience (completely unverified, of course) that a majority of transgendered individuals smoke. I’m not quite sure why this is.

You know lots of transexuals?

[KellyM]

@The Griffin

You know lots of transexuals?

Over the years, I would guess that I’ve known, to some degree or another, something between one hundred and two hundred transgendered individuals. Not a lot, but not a small number, either.

[aahala]

In order to make a judgment about a population(teenage lesbians), sound statisitical methods must be used.

The article does not provide how this information was collected, or the sample size for teenage lesbians, and even large sample sizes mean nothing if not properly collected. Also, given that the determination of whether one is a lesbian or not is solely a self described trait and not something likely an independent observer can verify, conclusions given may not be justified.

[Shade]

They could be more inclined to be honest and helpful, and so under-exagerate the amount they smoke less when asked. Or maybe the smoke damages their brains and turns them gay. </sarcasm>

Just making the point that since the article doesn’t mention how the data was gathered, we simply have to trust the journalist that it means what he says - journalists don’t necessarily draw the correct conclusions, or make implications the right ways.