Health Related Behaviors and Cancer Screening of Lesbians: Results of the Boston Lesbian Health Project II

Roberts, Susan Jo; Patsdaughter, Carol A.; Grindel, Cecelia Gatson; Tarmina, M. Suzanne

doi:10.1300/j013v39n04_03

Cited by 48 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Alternatively, there may fewer opportunities for lesbians to be referred to substance abuse treatment, in part, because they may be less likely than heterosexual women to visit primary care providers on a regular basis. 46 In contrast to findings from some population-based studies in which bisexual women have shown higher rates of substance use and other mental health problems, 47,48 the bisexual women in this study were similar to the lesbians in most of the outcomes assessed. This divergence in findings may be due to differences in sampling and recruitment procedures.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Corliss

Grella

Mays³

et al. 2006

Journal of Women's Health

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Corliss

Grella

Mays³

et al. 2006

Journal of Women's Health

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“…Previous population-based studies found women who identified as lesbian to be less likely to have had a Pap test than those who identified as heterosexual. [14][15][16] All of these studies, however, examined health care utilization among women who identified as lesbians; none looked at behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Care Access and Utilization among Women Who Have Sex with Women: Sexual Behavior and Identity

Kerker¹,

Mostashari²,

Thorpe³

2006

J Urban Health

131

103

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Past research has shown that women who either have sex with women or who identify as lesbian access less preventive health care than other women. However, previous studies have generally relied on convenience samples and have not examined the multiple associations of sexual identity, behavior and health care access/utilization. Unlike other studies, we used a multi-lingual population-based survey in New York City to examine the use of Pap tests and mammograms, as well as health care coverage and the use of primary care providers, among women who have sex with women and by sexual identity status. We found that women who had sex with women (WSW) were less likely to have had a Pap test in the past 3 years (66 vs. 80%, p G 0.0001) or a mammogram in the past 2 years (53 vs. 73%, p = 0.0009) than other women. After adjusting for health insurance coverage and other factors, WSW were ten times [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 9.8, 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.2, 22.9] and four times (AOR, 4.0, 95% CI 1.3, 12.0) more likely than non-WSW to not have received a timely Pap test or mammogram, respectively. Women whose behavior and identity were concordant were more likely to access Pap tests and mammograms than those whose behavior and identity were discordant. For example, WSW who identified as lesbians were more likely to have received timely Pap tests (97 vs. 48%, p G 0.0001) and mammograms (86 vs. 42%, p = 0.0007) than those who identified as heterosexual. Given the current screening recommendations for Pap tests and mammograms, provider counseling and public health messages should be inclusive of women who have sex with women, including those who have sex with women but identify as heterosexual.

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“…[34][35][36][37] Primary mental health concerns reported by lesbian women include depression, anxiety and panic disorders, alcoholism, eating disorders, and suicide attempts. 38 Among LGBT individuals, poor mental health has been associated with poor health behaviors such as illicit drug use, 39,40 tobacco use, [41][42][43] and alcohol abuse. 12 Additionally, among sexual minority women, higher depression and anxiety have been associated with poor health-related quality of life, 44 lack of exercise, 12 obesity, and poor general health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Mediational Model of Outness, Social Support, Mental Health, and Wellness Behavior in Ethnically Diverse Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women

2015

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Purpose: A growing body of research has begun to examine wellness behaviors in sexual minority women. While a number of constructs have been associated with wellness behaviors in this population, including outness, social support, and mental health, no research has attempted to forge the specific and unique connections among them. The aim of the current study was to construct a theoretical chain among these variables leading to wellness behaviors among an ethnically diverse sample of sexual minority women. Methods: A sample of 150 ethnically diverse, cisgender women identifying as lesbian, bisexual, queer, or an ''other'' non-heterosexual sexual orientation completed a web-administered national survey. Scales assessed participants' outness, social support, mental health, and wellness behaviors. Results: In a series of simultaneous, multiple regressions, outness to one's family was positively associated with wellness behavior and social support; social support from one's family and friends was positively associated with mental health; and depression was negatively associated with wellness behaviors. Two multiple mediational models generally suggested a cascading influence of outness to one's family on wellness behaviors through social support from one's family and depression. Conclusion: The study is one of the first to find potentially cascading links among personal, social, and mental health variables with health behaviors in a sample of diverse lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women. It thereby illuminates a number of potential targets for health promotion interventions in this population.

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Health Related Behaviors and Cancer Screening of Lesbians: Results of the Boston Lesbian Health Project II

Cited by 48 publications

References 34 publications

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Drug Use, Drug Severity, and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Health Care Access and Utilization among Women Who Have Sex with Women: Sexual Behavior and Identity

Multiple Mediational Model of Outness, Social Support, Mental Health, and Wellness Behavior in Ethnically Diverse Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women

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