How do substance and polysubstance use trajectories differ by sexual attraction from ages 17 to 24? A community-based longitudinal cohort study in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Longitudinal, population-based studies of how youth substance use (SU) varies by sexual attraction, sex and their interaction remain scarce, especially in Europe. This study examines poly-SU (PSU) trajectories at 17, 20 and 24; disparities between sexual minority (SM) youth and heterosexual (HET) youth regarding these trajectories; and their correlates.

Methods

We obtained data from the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood. SU was self-reported by n=1384 participants at 17, 20 and 24, and hair-tested at 20 and 24. Regression models included SM status, sex, their interaction, sociodemographic variables and psychosocial variables. This population-based longitudinal cohort analysis used linear mixed-effect models to examine developmental

SUBMITTER: Janousch C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853546 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature