Associations Between Social Contexts of Alcohol and Cannabis Use and Perceived Descriptive Norms in Sexual Minority Women and Gender Diverse Individuals Assigned Female at Birth.

Edison H.; Dyar C. · Alcohol, clinical & experimental research · 2026

**Background & Methods** This longitudinal study examined associations between social contexts of substance use and perceived descriptive norms in 409 sexual minority women and gender diverse (SMWGD) individuals assigned female at birth, ages 18-25 years. The research utilized baseline surveys, follow-up assessments, and 30-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data to investigate cross-sectional and prospective relationships between frequency of alcohol and cannabis use with other SGM peers and perceived descriptive norms for these substances. **Key Findings** - Drinking more frequently with SGM individuals during the EMA period was cross-sectionally associated with higher perceived frequency of drinking among SMWGD individuals at baseline and prospectively predicted increases in perceived drinking frequency from baseline to follow-up. - No significant concurrent or prospective associations were found between frequency of cannabis use with SGM individuals during the EMA period and descriptive norms for cannabis use among SMWGD individuals. - These findings identify perceived descriptive norms as a potential key risk factor for problematic alcohol use in SMWGD populations, distinct from established minority stress theory explanations for substance use disparities. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This review demonstrates moderate evidence quality with notable limitations. The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and findings are specific to a young adult population (18-25 years) of SMWGD individuals, potentially limiting generalizability to older sexual and gender minority populations or those with different demographic characteristics. The differential findings between alcohol and cannabis warrant further investigation to understand mechanism-specific factors. Strengths include longitudinal follow-up data, use of EMA methodology for contemporaneous assessment, and focus on an understudied population experiencing substance use disparities. The study provides novel insights into social norm development in SGM populations but requires replication and expansion to establish robust evidence for norms-based intervention development in this vulnerable population.

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