Grant Ruby, Mooney-Somers Julie, McNair Ruth, Pennay Amy, Segan Catherine, Power Jennifer, Bourne Adam
La Trobe University Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The University of Sydney Sydney Health Ethics, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tob Control. 2025 Jan 27. doi: 10.1136/tc-2024-059039.
Smoking rates have declined markedly in Australia over time; however, lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women continue to smoke at higher rates than heterosexual women. Understanding the factors influencing smoking in this population is crucial for developing targeted cessation interventions and other supports.
Experiences of and motivations for smoking among 42 LBQ cisgender and transgender women and non-binary people in Australia who currently or previously smoked were explored through semi-structured interviews. Participants were primarily white Australian cisgender women in their 30s-40s. Thematic analysis was used to identify common psychological, social and cultural influences on smoking.
While coping with minority stress was a common factor influencing some participants' smoking behaviours, participants also described how smoking offered pleasurable opportunities for gender expression, affirmation and rebellion. Smoking also enabled participants to experience 'marginalised connectivity', a form of social solidarity fostered through the sharing of a stigmatised practice by an oppressed or stigmatised community.
This article identifies factors contributing to the ongoing socio-cultural relevance of smoking for some LBQ women in Australia. These specific psychological, social and cultural contexts remain salient for LBQ women's smoking and must be factored into smoking cessation campaigns and programme designs for this population. Tailored messaging that emphasises alternative self-care strategies and the benefits of quitting in the context of supportive communities may be more effective in engaging LBQ women than long-term health risk messages.
随着时间推移，澳大利亚的吸烟率显著下降；然而，女同性恋、双性恋和酷儿（LBQ）女性的吸烟率仍高于异性恋女性。了解影响这一人群吸烟的因素对于制定有针对性的戒烟干预措施和其他支持至关重要。
通过半结构化访谈，探讨了澳大利亚42名目前或曾经吸烟的LBQ顺性别和跨性别女性及非二元性别人士的吸烟经历和动机。参与者主要是30多岁至40多岁的澳大利亚白人顺性别女性。采用主题分析法来确定对吸烟有影响的常见心理、社会和文化因素。
虽然应对少数群体压力是影响一些参与者吸烟行为的一个常见因素，但参与者也描述了吸烟如何为性别表达、肯定和反抗提供了愉悦的机会。吸烟还使参与者能够体验“边缘化的联系”，这是一种通过受压迫或被污名化的社区分享一种被污名化的行为而形成的社会团结形式。
本文确定了导致吸烟在澳大利亚一些LBQ女性中持续具有社会文化相关性的因素。这些特定的心理、社会和文化背景对于LBQ女性吸烟仍然很突出，并且必须纳入针对这一人群的戒烟运动和项目设计中。在支持性社区的背景下，强调替代自我护理策略和戒烟益处的定制信息可能比长期健康风险信息在吸引LBQ女性方面更有效。
