# Alcohol Intoxication and Gender: A Qualitative Study of Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM)

> **NIH NIH R01** · SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS CORPORATION · 2020 · $175,218

## Abstract

7. Project Summary
 Building on the on-going parent project (AA022656) which examines intoxication and young adults, this
proposed qualitative renewal project will examine the extent to which gendered norms shape risky drinking
practices for sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults (18-25). Alcohol has played a central role for
SGM by facilitating exploration of sexuality and gender, coping with minority stress, trauma, and stigma and
serving as an integral component of bars and clubs for SGM young adults. Given this central role, it is not
surprising that problematic alcohol use, including heavy episodic drinking (HED) and intoxication, and alcohol-
related problems are significant issues for SGM young adults. However, to date, research on SGM and alcohol
use are limited, findings are mixed, and identity categories inconsistent.
 We will focus on the following research questions: i) How do the patterns, practices, and contexts of
intoxication vary among SGM young adults? ii) What are the meanings of intoxication for SGM adults? and iii)
In what ways are young adult SGMs’ meanings and patterns of intoxication shaped by their sexual and gender
identities and beliefs about masculinity and femininity?
 In order to compare the findings of this proposed supplemental project with the data from the parent
study (AA022656), the research design is informed by the Parent R01 and will utilize similar qualitative
methods to explore questions about meaning, context, and social practices related to drinking and intoxication
among SGM young adults. Two hundred in-depth interviews will be conducted with a diverse, purposive
sample of SGM young adults, using lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer categories to structure
recruitment efforts. Respondents who possess a range of drinking experiences will be chosen. In-depth
qualitative interviews will include a structured questionnaire to gather socio-demographic and alcohol-use data
and an open-ended, semi-structured schedule to provide detailed narrative information, which will include both
life history questions and vignette elicitation exercises. Analysis will consist of mixed methods appropriate to
the various types of data collected.
 The qualitative analysis produced by this project will a) inform the development of appropriate ways to
measure and compare SGM identity categories in alcohol research, (b) help to clarify ambiguous research on
SGM alcohol use and related problems, and (c) identify modifiable variables that are promising points for
intervention to reduce alcohol-related problems among specific SGM young adults who are at an increased risk
for problematic alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. .

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9962214
- **Project number:** 5R01AA022656-07
- **Recipient organization:** SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** GEOFFREY P HUNT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $175,218
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9962214

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9962214, Alcohol Intoxication and Gender: A Qualitative Study of Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM) (5R01AA022656-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9962214. Licensed CC0.

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