Sexual Minority Adults and Smoking Cessation Outcomes: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study
Steven A Branstetter1, Maya P Matlack1
1Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Sexual minority adults face significant smoking disparities. Factors like smoking intensity, psychological distress, lower income, and race impact cessation success, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Sexual minority (SM) adults exhibit higher smoking rates and lower cessation success than heterosexual adults.
- Limited tailored cessation programs and understudied social/behavioral determinants contribute to these disparities.
- Understanding cessation predictors is crucial for developing effective interventions for SM populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine predictors of smoking cessation over one year in sexual minority adults.
- To identify factors influencing cessation outcomes within this population.
- To inform targeted interventions addressing smoking disparities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from Waves 6 and 7 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.
- Employed complex samples logistic regression to analyze predictors of cessation.
- Included smoking intensity, nicotine dependence, race, income, education, psychological distress, quality of life, and an intersectional race/sex/sexual orientation variable.
Main Results:
- Smoking intensity and psychological distress were key predictors of cessation.
- Lower income and non-White race were associated with reduced cessation likelihood.
- Cessation outcomes varied significantly across intersecting race, sex, and sexual orientation groups, with White heterosexual men showing the best outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Smoking cessation disparities are influenced by intersecting social identities.
- Behavioral dependence, socioeconomic factors, and psychological distress collectively impact cessation.
- Interventions must address nicotine dependence within broader structural and mental health contexts for minoritized populations.
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