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"When You Can't Hold on to Society, You Hold on to Something Else": A Mixed-Methods Study on Substance Use Among LGBTQIA+ People in Türkiye.

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Title: "When You Can't Hold on to Society, You Hold on to Something Else": A Mixed-Methods Study on Substance Use Among LGBTQIA+ People in Türkiye.
Authors: Kara, Yunus (AUTHOR)
Source: Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 5, p707-717. 11p.
Subjects: Substance abuse, Scale analysis (Psychology), Trans men, Cronbach's alpha, Gender identity, Psychology of LGBTQ+ people, Interviewing, Questionnaires, Human sexuality, Gay men, Affinity groups, Judgment sampling, Descriptive statistics, Emotions, Psychological adaptation, Family relations, Anxiety, Experience, Surveys, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Metropolitan areas, Analysis of variance, Social networks, Data analysis software, Trans women, Alcohol drinking, Discrimination (Sociology), Social support, Mental depression
Geographic Terms: Turkey
Abstract: Background: Substance use among LGBTQIA+ people is shaped by complex psychosocial and structural factors, particularly within contexts of social marginalization. In Türkiye, little is known about how intersecting identities affect the substance use risks. Objective: This mixed-methods study explored the prevalence and contextual dynamics of substance use among LGBTQIA+ people in Türkiye, integrating quantitative data (n = 570) and in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 24). Results: Quantitative findings indicated that substance use risk significantly varied across gender identity and sexual orientation. Men, trans women, and gay participants exhibited higher scores on standardized screening tools (API-RSF-Alcohol, API-RSF-Drug, and ASSIST), suggesting the elevated vulnerability. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: the emotional roots of substance use, its associated psychosocial challenges, and strategies of resilience and solidarity. Participants described substance use not as an isolated behavior but as a coping mechanism amid emotional turmoil, identity struggles, and systemic discrimination. They also reported facing institutional barriers in accessing formal support systems, while community-based solidarity emerged as a vital resource. Conclusions: Findings highlight the urgent need for intersectional and culturally responsive substance use interventions. Addressing both individual and structural dimensions—such as stigma, identity-based rejection, and service inaccessibility—is essential for effective prevention and care. The study fills a critical gap in Türkiye's literature by centering LGBTQIA+ voices and offers actionable insights for mental health practitioners, harm reduction services, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: "When You Can't Hold on to Society, You Hold on to Something Else": A Mixed-Methods Study on Substance Use Among LGBTQIA+ People in Türkiye.
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  Data: Background: Substance use among LGBTQIA+ people is shaped by complex psychosocial and structural factors, particularly within contexts of social marginalization. In Türkiye, little is known about how intersecting identities affect the substance use risks. Objective: This mixed-methods study explored the prevalence and contextual dynamics of substance use among LGBTQIA+ people in Türkiye, integrating quantitative data (n = 570) and in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 24). Results: Quantitative findings indicated that substance use risk significantly varied across gender identity and sexual orientation. Men, trans women, and gay participants exhibited higher scores on standardized screening tools (API-RSF-Alcohol, API-RSF-Drug, and ASSIST), suggesting the elevated vulnerability. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: the emotional roots of substance use, its associated psychosocial challenges, and strategies of resilience and solidarity. Participants described substance use not as an isolated behavior but as a coping mechanism amid emotional turmoil, identity struggles, and systemic discrimination. They also reported facing institutional barriers in accessing formal support systems, while community-based solidarity emerged as a vital resource. Conclusions: Findings highlight the urgent need for intersectional and culturally responsive substance use interventions. Addressing both individual and structural dimensions—such as stigma, identity-based rejection, and service inaccessibility—is essential for effective prevention and care. The study fills a critical gap in Türkiye's literature by centering LGBTQIA+ voices and offers actionable insights for mental health practitioners, harm reduction services, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192503380
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2575067
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 707
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scale analysis (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trans men
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cronbach's alpha
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of LGBTQ+ people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gay men
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Affinity groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Metropolitan areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trans women
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alcohol drinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discrimination (Sociology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turkey
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: "When You Can't Hold on to Society, You Hold on to Something Else": A Mixed-Methods Study on Substance Use Among LGBTQIA+ People in Türkiye.
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: 2026
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