Nicotine/tobacco use disparities among transgender and gender diverse adults: Findings from wave 4 PATH data

Abstract

BackgroundTransgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) populations have current cigarette/e-cigarette/cigar use rates ranging from 32.6% to 39.7%. Importantly, while some studies have reported tobacco use as significantly higher among TGD versus cisgender individuals in multivariate analyses, others have reported no significant differences. The present study used data from wave 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a large, nationally representative U.S. study, to examine relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, internal and external factors, and tobacco use behaviors, with a focus on TGD individuals. MethodsData were from 33,628 adults from the PATH study’s wave 4 (collected December 2016–January 2018). Multivariable logistic regression models examined differences in current tobacco use (cigarettes, electronic nicotine products, and cigars) between TGD and cisgender individuals through the replication of previous work using PATH data, as well as evaluating the role of other internal and external factors. ResultsTGD individuals were 2–3 times more likely than cisgender individuals to report current nicotine/tobacco use, even after adjustment for potential confounders. TGD individuals tended to have lower income and education and be more likely to endorse a sexual minority identity than their cisgender counterparts; meanwhile, lower income, less education, and lesbian/gay and bisexual identities were significant predictors of nicotine/tobacco use, independent of TGD identity. ConclusionsPresent findings underscore the high rates of nicotine/tobacco use in the TGNC community and emphasize the necessity of TGD-focused research methods and measures, access to quality medical care, and policy aimed at minimizing marginalization and nicotine/tobacco use disparities experienced by TGD communities.