Sexual orientation and mental and physical health status: findings from a Dutch population survey.
- Autores: Theo G.M. Sandfort, Floor Bakker, François G Schellevis, Ine Vanwesenbeeck
- Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 96, Nº. 6, 2006, págs. 1119-1125
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
- Dialnet Métricas: 2 Citas
-
Resumen
Objectives: We sought to determine whether sexual orientation is related to mental and physical health and health behaviors in the general population.; Methods: Data was derived from a health interview survey that was part of the second Dutch National Survey of General Practice, carried out in 2001 among an all-age random sample of the population. Of the 19685 persons invited to participate, 65% took part in the survey. Sexual orientation was assessed in persons aged 18 years and older and reported by 98.2% of 9684 participants. The respondents' characteristics are comparable with those of the Dutch general population.; Results: Gay/lesbian participants reported more acute mental health symptoms than heterosexual people and their general mental health also was poorer. Gay/lesbian people more frequently reported acute physical symptoms and chronic conditions than heterosexual people. Differences in smoking, alcohol use, and drug use were less prominent.; Conclusions: We found that sexual orientation was associated with mental as well as physical health. The causal processes responsible for these differences by sexual orientation need further exploration.;
