Associations Between Perceived Gender-Based Discrimination, Substance Use, Sleep, and Stress Among Young Adults

Introduction: Gender-based discrimination has been associated with negative health outcomes among the adult population, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety disorders.  Much less is known, however, about perceived gender-based discrimination among young adults, particularly how perceived gender-based discrimination may be associated with unhealthy behaviors.  Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between perceived gender-based discrimination and substance use, sleep problems, stress, and stress management among first-year undergraduate students.  Additionally, we explored if gender moderated these associations.

Methods: Participants included 844 students (57% female; 50% White, mean age=18.98) who completed an online self-report survey assessing a variety of health behaviors.  Students’ responses to perceived gender-based discrimination were summed across eight situations (e.g. at work, at school, in social settings) and dichotomized to represent ever experiencing gender-based discrimination (never discrimination=0, discrimination=1).  Students self-reported past month and past year alcohol and cigarette use.  Stress was self-reported as 1 (not stressed) to 10 (very stressed) and stress management ability was measured from 1 (ineffective) to 10 (completely effective).  Five items assessed how frequently (0-7 days) students experienced sleep problems over the past week.  Responses were summed to create a sleep problems index, with higher scores indicating greater sleep problems.  Linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between perceived gender-based discrimination and health behaviors/outcomes controlling for age, race, and gender.  Gender was tested as a moderator of these associations.

Results: Approximately 41% of students experienced perceived gender-based discrimination, 40% of males and 42% of females.  Perceived gender-based discrimination was significantly and positively associated with number of cigarettes consumed within the past year (p=.02) and past month (p=.03).  Perceived gender discrimination was also significantly, positively related to stress (p=.01) and sleep problems (p<.01) but negatively associated with stress management (p=.002).  Perceived gender-based discrimination was not significantly associated with alcohol use.  Gender was not a significant moderator for any relationships.

Conclusions: The experience of perceived gender-based discrimination among young adults may increase the likelihood that individuals smoke cigarettes, have higher levels of stress, have more sleep problems, and have a reduced ability to manage stress.  Further research is needed to continue to understand how perceived gender-based discrimination may impact health among young adults.  Additionally, given that similar percentages of males and females experienced gender-based discrimination, future research is needed which describes the discrimination experiences these young adults may have encountered.