Health Disparities Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults: Results From a Population-Based Study
Top Cited Papers
- 1 October 2013
- journal article
- Published by American Public Health Association in American Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 103 (10), 1802-1809
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2012.301110
Abstract
Objectives. We investigated health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 years and older. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2003–2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 96 992) on health outcomes, chronic conditions, access to care, behaviors, and screening by gender and sexual orientation with adjusted logistic regressions. Results. LGB older adults had higher risk of disability, poor mental health, smoking, and excessive drinking than did heterosexuals. Lesbians and bisexual women had higher risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and gay and bisexual men had higher risk of poor physical health and living alone than did heterosexuals. Lesbians reported a higher rate of excessive drinking than did bisexual women; bisexual men reported a higher rate of diabetes and a lower rate of being tested for HIV than did gay men. Conclusions. Tailored interventions are needed to address the health disparities and unique health needs of LGB older adults. Research across the life course is needed to better understand health disparities by sexual orientation and age, and to assess subgroup differences within these communities.Keywords
This publication has 48 references indexed in Scilit:
- Substance use in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: An update on empirical research and implications for treatment.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2012
- Stress and Mental Health Among Midlife and Older Gay-Identified MenAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2012
- Relationship Between Obesity and Diabetes in a US Adult Population: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2006Obesity Surgery, 2010
- Insufficient Rest or Sleep and Its Relation to Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Obesity in a National, Multiethnic SamplePLOS ONE, 2010
- Disparities in Health-Related Quality of Life: A Comparison of Lesbians and Bisexual WomenAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2010
- Demonstrating the Importance and Feasibility of Including Sexual Orientation in Public Health Surveys: Health Disparities in the Pacific NorthwestAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2010
- Chronically ill midlife and older lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals and their informal caregivers: The impact of the social contextSexuality Research and Social Policy, 2009
- Self-reported altruistic and reciprocal behaviors among homosexually and heterosexually experienced adults: implications for HIV/AIDS service organizationsAIDS Care, 2009
- Measuring Social Isolation Among Older Adults Using Multiple Indicators From the NSHAP StudyThe Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2009
- Overweight and Obesity in Sexual-Minority Women: Evidence From Population-Based DataAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2007