Health Disparities Among Young Adult Sexual Minorities in the U.S.

Abstract

Background Emerging research suggests that young adult sexual minorities (identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual or engaging in same-sex attractions or behaviors) experience poorer health than their majority counterparts, but many measures of health inequity remain unexamined in population-based research. Purpose To describe a wide range of health status and healthcare access characteristics of sexual minorities in comparison with those of the majority population in a national sample of U.S. young adults. Methods Binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses of Wave IV data (2008) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (participants aged 24–32 years, n=13,088) were conducted. Health measures were self-rated health; diagnosis of any of several physical or mental illnesses or sexually transmitted infections; measured body mass index; depression classified from self-reported symptoms; use of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication; uninsured; forgone care; and receipt of physical, dental, and psychological services. Analyses were conducted in 2012–2013. Results Sexual minority women had elevated odds of most adverse health conditions and lower odds of receiving a physical or dental examination. Sexual minority men had elevated odds of fewer adverse health conditions. Conclusions Young adult sexual minorities are at higher risk of poor physical and mental health. The results highlight the multidimensionality of sexual minority status and respond to calls for greater understanding of the health of this population.

Disparities in Body Mass Index Trajectories From Adolescence to Early Adulthood for Sexual Minority Women

“…Currently, it is unknown whether the BMI trajectories of SMW from adolescence to adulthood differ from those of their heterosexual peers, as previous studies attempting to identify sexual orientation-related BMI disparities have yielded conflicting results (6, 15, 18). While Strutz et al found no difference in Wave IV BMI between sexual minority versus heterosexual women in the Add Health cohort, Katz-Wise et al identified higher BMIs in White and Latina bisexual women across all Add Health waves, regardless of age.…”

A Qualitative Study Examining Young Adults’ Experiences of Disclosure and Nondisclosure of LGBTQ Identity to Health Care Providers

“…Moreover, LGBTQ individuals report higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders, suicidality, and suicide attempts (Eliason & Schope, 2001; Mayer et al, 2008; Lehavot & Simoni, 2011; Reisner, White, Bradford, & Mimiaga, 2014) relative to heterosexual and cisgender people. For LGBTQ young adults, their developmental stage and sexual and/or gender identities converge to create a nexus of risk factors and negative health outcomes that augment the health disparities seen in this population (Strutz, Herring, & Halpern, 2015). …”

Health of sexual minorities in north-eastern Brazil: representations, behaviours and obstacles

“…Sexual minorities, including individuals who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and those who are attracted to individuals of the same sex or same behaviours, are poorly studied in population-based samples with regard to health and inequalities in health 1 . Nevertheless, it is important to emphasise that the access to health care among sexual minorities is not properly explored in the literature.…”