Sexual orientation and mental health over the life course in a birth cohort
| Autor: | Joseph M. Boden, Janet K. Spittlehouse, L. J. Horwood |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Longitudinal study Adolescent Sexual Behavior Human sexuality 03 medical and health sciences Sexual and Gender Minorities Young Adult 0302 clinical medicine medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Longitudinal Studies Suicidal ideation Applied Psychology Mental Disorders 05 social sciences Mental health Sexual minority Psychiatry and Mental health Cross-Sectional Studies 050903 gender studies Latent Class Analysis Sexual orientation Anxiety Life course approach Female 0509 other social sciences medicine.symptom Psychology Clinical psychology New Zealand |
| Zdroj: | Psychological medicine. 50(8) |
| ISSN: | 1469-8978 0033-2917 |
| Popis: | BackgroundSexual minority individuals consistently report higher rates of mental disorder than heterosexuals. However, much of the research has methodological limitations related to the classification of sexuality, the use of cross-sectional data and problematic sampling procedures such as using convenience samples.MethodsWe used longitudinal data from a birth cohort enrolled in the Christchurch Health and Development Study (n = 1040). Latent class analysis was used to classify participants sexuality based on self-report data of sexual behaviour, attraction, identity and fantasy, gathered over five assessments between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Mental health and substance use outcome data were gathered at four assessments between the ages of 21 and 35 years. Potential covariate variables were collected during childhood.ResultsThe latent class analysis identified four groups interpreted as: ‘heterosexual’ 82%, ‘mostly heterosexual’ 12.6%, ‘bisexual’ 3.5% and ‘gay/lesbian’ 1.9%. In the sexual minority groups, women outnumbered men by at least 2:1. Pooled rates for mental health disorders of depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, cannabis abuse and total disorders, after adjustment for childhood covariate variables, were significantly higher in the sexual minority groups (p < 0.01). The strength of association between sexuality group and mental health outcomes did not differ according to sex. Fluidity in sexuality reports appeared unrelated to risk of mental health outcomes.ConclusionsOver the life course, membership of a sexual minority group is clearly associated with mental health problems of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation regardless of the age when same-sex attraction, behaviour, identity or fantasy is expressed. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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