QSOX - Queer Women's Substance Use Over Time

2022-2025

Ruby Grant, Julie Mooney-Somers, Jennifer Power, Ruth McNair, Amy Pennay, Jami Jones, David Moore, Adam Bourne

Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women have high rates of alcohol and tobacco use, yet understandings of why this is the case are often simplistic and fail to capture the complexities of what these substances really mean to LBQ women. Subsequently, smoking cessation and alcohol-related supports may not adequately meet the needs of this population.

QSOX is a longitudinal qualitative study exploring alcohol, tobacco, and vaping among LBQ women in Victoria and New South Wales. The study will follow the lives of LBQ women over the course of 18 months to understand the cultural practices of substances in LBQ women’s communities and how these may change over time. In doing so, QSOX aims to inform future health-related interventions that better meet the needs of this population.

Briefing papers

QSOX Briefing Paper 1: LBQ Women and Alcohol

QSOX Briefing Paper 2: LBQ Women and Smoking

QSOX Briefing Paper 3: LBQ Women and Vaping

QSOX Practice Guide: Supporting LBQ women and non-binary people with alcohol, tobacco and nicotine use

QSOX Zine

As part of the QSOX project, we have produced an accompanying zine that can be printed and folded into a booklet. It's available to download as A4 PDF, or as PDF with print bleeds.

For folding instructions, please follow this Youtube video.

This zine is also available as a series of social media tiles - click to view, or to download, right-click and choose 'Save image as' for each tile:

Associated publications

The QSOX team is working on publications based on the findings from the study. These will be added to this webpage as they are published online. If you are not able to access them via the links below, please contact arcshs@latrobe.edu.au.

• Queering vaping: A qualitative analysis of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women’s E-cigarette use in Australia
  Vaping is common among lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Australia and is often tied to identity, style, and community. It can be a way to resist mainstream health norms, but its meanings are mixed, with some finding it empowering and others experiencing stigma. Public health and policy approaches must recognise these queer cultural meanings, so as not to reinforce stigma or cause unintended harms to LGBTQ+ communities.
• Psychological, social and cultural influences on smoking among lesbian, bisexual and queer women
  While coping with minority stress was a common factor influencing some lesbian, bisexual and queer women's smoking behaviours, participants in this study 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.
• Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Identifying Women: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study Protocol
  This paper outlines our approach to the QSOX study, detailing the rationale and methods that we plan to use to provide a more in-depth understanding of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women’s lived experiences of drinking, smoking, and vaping over time.
• ‘All the dykes I know drink beer’: Sexuality and gender performance through alcohol consumption among lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Australia
  This article explores the role that alcohol plays in LBQ women and non-binary people’s lives, including how drinking shapes gender expression, intimacy, and sense of safety.
• Perceptions and Cultural Practices of Vaping Among Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women in Australia
  This article explores LBQ women and non-binary people's motivations for using e-cigarettes or vaping, including stress-relief and gender expression. It also highlights challenges, such as stigma, risk perceptions, and harms.

Meet the Project Team

Ruby Grant (she/her) is a research fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University. Her work explores LGBTQ+ health and inclusive practice, including the role of place in LGBTQ+ identity and community wellbeing.

Julie Mooney-Somers (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney. Julie has a long track record in research on the health of sexuality and gender diverse people (primarily health related to tobacco, alcohol and other substances, and sexual and reproductive health). She leads a collaboration with ACON that conducts SWASH, the longest running periodic survey of lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s health and wellbeing in the world.

Jennifer Power (She/her) is an Associate Professor and Principal Fellow at ARCSHS at La Trobe University. Her research focuses on sexuality, sexual health and HIV. She currently co-ordinates the Secondary Students and Sexual Health Survey and the HIV Futures study and is involved in other studies relating to LGBTQA+ wellbeing, young people and sexual health, and digital sexual health literacy.  

Amy Pennay (she/her) is an alcohol researcher and sociologist at the Centre for Alcohol Policy at La Trobe University. Her work investigates drinking and associated harms, with particular attention to the intersections between culture, health and policy.

Jami Jones (she/her) is the Program Lead of Rainbow Health Australia.

Ruth McNair AM (she/her) is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne and a general practitioner/owner at an inner-Melbourne general practice. She is expert in a range of LGBTIQA+ health and research issues and advocates for systemic change to reduce the structural inequalities that damage LGBTIQA+ lives.

David Moore (he/him) is Adjunct Professor at ARCSHS at La Trobe University. David is an internationally recognised leader in the social analysis of youth, gender, alcohol and other drug use, addiction concepts and drug policy.

Adam Bourne (he/him) is a Professor of Public Health and Deputy Director of ARCSHS at La Trobe University.  At ARCSHS, Adam takes a leading role in the development of research that examines the health and well-being of LGBTIQA+ populations, at both a domestic level and in an international context. He works in close collaboration with a number of community-based, national and supra-national organisations and sits on the Board of Directors of Thorne Harbour Health (previously the Victorian AIDS Council).

Partners & Funding

QSOX is a research partnership between the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University, the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, alongside Thorne Harbour Health, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, ACON, Quit Victoria, and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association. The study is funded by the Australian Research Council.