Dissertation: Alcohol Addiction in the LGBTQ Community - Ireland Case

This research paper investigates alcohol addiction within the LGBTQ community in Ireland, addressing the higher prevalence compared to heterosexual individuals. It explores factors such as societal acceptance, psychological distress, and emotional challenges that contribute to alcohol dependence. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining literature review with primary data collected through surveys and interviews within the Irish LGBTQ community. The findings analyze demographic factors, reasons for alcohol consumption, and its effects, ultimately providing recommendations for reducing alcohol addiction and suggesting avenues for future research. The research emphasizes the unique obstacles faced by the LGBTQ community and aims to contribute to a better understanding of addiction within this population. Desklib provides access to this and many other student contributed assignments.

Running head: DISSERTATION
Alcohol Addiction in LGBTQ community: A case study of Ireland
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research paper would not have been successful had it not been the unconditional
support of my professor who had provided me with all the necessary support and guidance to go
about with the research process. Alongside that, I shall also be thanking all the persons who had
provided their valuable insight in the process of interview. Had it not been the interviewees and
their unconditional cooperation, reaching at the conclusions would not have not been possible.
The LGBT community of Ireland deserves a heartfelt gratitude from my end as they had
encourage me and it was quite beneficial to my purpose.

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ABSTRACT
A recent problem which seems to be affecting the smooth functioning of the
community is that of the LGBTQ community. Ireland like most other nations of the Western
Europe is quite progressive with regard to the LGBT rights. The nation has achieved milestones
in achieving the equal status for the LGBT community at par with the cis gendered heterosexual
people of the nation. However, the issue of acceptance of the people belonging to the LBGTQ
community is still prevalent as there are many people in the society who do not believe outside
of the traditional male-female divide. In this respect, the phenomenon of taking to alcohol to cast
the agonies of life into obliviousness and to enjoy oneself in moments of merrymaking is quite
common and that is also pertaining to the queer community of Ireland. Thus this research shall
be dedicated to the issue of alcohol problem which is observed among the LGBT community of
Ireland. In this research paper, the particular focus has been on trying to understand the
difference between the rate of LGBT alcoholism and their heterosexual counterpart which is the
thesis statement of the essay.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................4
Research Statement......................................................................................................................5
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................5
Research Questions......................................................................................................................5
Research Rationale......................................................................................................................6
Research Structure.......................................................................................................................6
Section 2: Research Recipient.......................................................................................................10
Section 3: Suitability of the researcher for the research................................................................11
Section 4: Literature Review.........................................................................................................12
Scenario of LGBT Rights in the Irish Society...........................................................................12
Factors influencing alcohol addiction among the people of the LGBTQ community..............13
Critical Analysis........................................................................................................................26
Literature Gap............................................................................................................................27
Section 5: Method: Research Design.............................................................................................28
Introduction................................................................................................................................28
Research Philosophy..................................................................................................................28
Research Approach....................................................................................................................28
Research Strategy......................................................................................................................29
Time Horizon.............................................................................................................................29

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Research Equipment..................................................................................................................30
Section 6: Data Collection Method................................................................................................32
Sampling Procedure...................................................................................................................33
Sampling Method.......................................................................................................................33
Total Population Size.................................................................................................................34
Sampling Frame.........................................................................................................................34
Sample Size...............................................................................................................................34
Section 7: Data Findings and Analysis..........................................................................................36
Data Findings.............................................................................................................................36
Demographic Factors.............................................................................................................36
Factors influencing alcohol consumption..............................................................................40
Effects of alcohol consumption.............................................................................................47
Data Analysis.............................................................................................................................49
Section 8: Time, Cost and Project Management...........................................................................53
Section 9: New and Relevant Research.........................................................................................54
References:....................................................................................................................................58
Appendix:......................................................................................................................................59

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Section 1: Introduction
There are many problems during the time period of an individuals’ life on Earth. Sadness
and happiness are a part and parcel of one’s life; one cannot exist without the other. Challenges
and obstacles in life are important as they aid in the growth and development of the person (Al-
Jilaihawi et al., 2017). This is so because in the face of a danger or a problem, the individual
devises certain measures which helps them to overcome this challenge. The knowledge gained in
the process of overcoming the challenge and the capability improved therein, stays with the
individual for the remainder of his or her life. This ability then aids the individual in solving the
next problem of similar nature with much ease and comfort (Bolam & Bates, 2016). As a result,
it is important to take both the positive and the negatives of life with courage and determination.
A recent problem which seems to be affecting the smooth functioning of the community is that
of the LGBTQ community. Ireland like most other nations of the Western Europe is quite
progressive with regard to the LGBT rights (Boyle, S.C., LaBrie, Costine & Witkovic, 2017).
The nation has achieved milestones in achieving the equal status for the LGBT community at par
with the cis gendered heterosexual people of the nation. However, the issue of acceptance of the
people belonging to the LBGTQ community is still prevalent as there are many people in the
society who do not believe outside of the traditional male-female divide. In this respect, the
phenomenon of taking to alcohol to cast the agonies of life into obliviousness and to enjoy
oneself in moments of merrymaking is quite common and that is also pertaining to the queer
community of Ireland. Thus this research shall be dedicated to the issue of alcohol problem
which is observed among the LGBT community of Ireland.

7DISSERTATION
Research Statement
The research aims to understand the various factors which examines the aspect that the
people belonging to the LGBTQ community are more prone to get addicted to alcohol than
hetero sexual community.
Research Objectives
The research objectives of this research study are as follows -
1. To identify the rate of the LGBTQ community in the Ireland.
2. To examine the problem of alcohol addiction among the LGBTQ community.
3. To discover the reason behind the alcohol addiction among the people belonging to the
LGBTQ community.
4. To find the opportunities that are lacking while reducing alcohol addiction among the LGBTQ
community and the recommendations to help such people by reducing the problem of addiction
to alcohol.
Research Questions
The research tries to answer the following questions -
1. What is the rate of the LGBTQ community in the Ireland?
2. What is the problem of alcohol addiction among the LGBTQ community?
3. What are the various reasons behind the alcohol addiction among the people belonging to the
LGBTQ community?

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4. What are the different opportunities that are lacking while reducing alcohol addiction among
the LGBTQ community and the various recommendations to help such people by reducing the
problem of addiction to alcohol?
Research Rationale
The issue of alcoholism is something which cuts across the divisions of class, gender and
sexuality, thereby making it a generic issue. However the same issue with regard to the LGBTQ
community is quite important and unique as they have special set of obstacles to face in life
which makes their journey and their experiences quite difficult (Bush et al., 2019). Naturally, the
issues driving them to alcoholism is something quite unique and deserves special and in depth
treatment. However, this problem of alcohol addiction is seen also to exist in other hetero
normative communities as well.
In this particular research proposal, the study deals with the finding of the reasons behind
the LGBT community taking recourse to alcohol addiction. On the basis of the findings and
elaboration of the reasons driving the LGBT community to alcohol addiction the hypothesis that
the LGBT community is more likely to fall prey to alcohol addiction it tested to be valid. As
such, the significance of the study lies in the fact that it addresses the existing problem of
addiction to alcohol to be existing within the social community and that the people belonging to
the LGBTQ community are no more susceptible to it than the hetero normative community.
Research Structure
The research will be structured in nine chapters, each addressing the issue of
introduction, the research recipient, the suitability of the researcher to undertake the research, the
literature review, the research design employed in the research study, the method of data

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collection, the analysis of the data and findings, time, cost and project management and a chapter
on recommendations and future course of research.
Introduction
The introductory chapter introduces the readers to the issue of LGBTQ community and
their problem of addiction to alcohol consumption existing among the people of the community
therein. The chapter also makes the readers aware that the study is based in the region of Ireland.
The significance of the research is mentioned in this chapter. The problem of addiction to
alcoholism exists among all the sections of the people in the society (Carr & Pinkerton, 2015).
However, it has often been mentioned that in the context of the people belonging to the LGBTQ
community, it has been noticed that the problem persists even more. Almost everyone in the
societal community face many other hardships in life that makes them want to find some
temporary relief or respite. The chapter also points out the various research objectives and the
consequent research questions that the research study seeks to answer.
Research Recipient
The second chapter on research recipient addresses the question of the people for whom
the research has been undertaken. This chapter identifies the target population of the research,
namely the LGBTQ community of Ireland. However, the research is not only meant to influence
the people of Ireland but rather the LGBTQ community of the entire world. The main intention is
to make the world aware about the various psychological and the social hardships faced by a
person of their one species which otherwise could have been avoided if proper measures were
undertaken (Finn, 2017).
Suitability of the researcher for the research

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The third chapter seeks to address the issue of suitability of the researcher for the
research. The research topic of Alcohol addiction in the LGBTQ community is effective for the
researcher because it helps in getting a brief explanation regarding the topic (Fink, 2013). The
research is suitable for the researcher because the study helps in getting the in depth knowledge
for the topic along with the reason that can increase the knowledge of an individual.
Literature Review
Alcohol addiction is a problem which is not something typical to the LGTQIA
Community, it is a generic problem which pervades across gender, race, class and sexuality
(Chaney & Brubaker, 2012). It is a social evil which can affect any section of the society, but
that which makes the LGBTQIA community distinct in terms of alcohol addiction can be
summed up as their marginalization in the society and their predicament emanating from their
gender identity and sexual orientation related affairs. The literature review section seeks to
analyze the different secondary sources which talks about the causes of alcohol addiction among
the people belonging to the LGBTQ community. The themes which are dealt with in this section
is the reasons behind the cause of dependence of the people of this community, one of them
being depression. Depression is one of the most important reasons behind driving the Queer
folks to Alcohol Addiction is a broad one. The other factors are those of psychological and
emotional turmoil.
Data Collection Method
This section discusses the method used to collect the data which points towards the
existence of addiction to alcohol among the people belonging to the LGBTQ community. In

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addition to this, the study based on the quantitative hypothesis thus the statistical measurement
can give practical assumptions to the researcher (Flentje, Bacca & Cochran, 2015).
Data Findings and Analysis
This chapter analyses the various findings from the data collected with the help of
primary survey among the people of Ireland. Moreover, in order to strengthen the argument in
favour of the hypothesis that the dependence on alcohol by the people of the LGBTQ community
is indeed high, the data gathered from the literature review shall also be analyzed.
Time, Cost and Project Management
In this chapter the time taken to complete the research study and the cost involved has
been analysed.
New and relevant Research
The concluding chapter of the research study looks in to various recommendations that
can help in improving the plight of the people belonging to the LGBTQ community who are
dependent on alcohol to a great extent. The recommendations are meant to reduce this plight and
offer some relief to the concerned people. Moreover, this chapter seeks to pave the way for
further relevant research in this area.