Khanolkar, Amal;
(2022)
Ethnic and Sexual Identity-Related Inequalities in Adolescent Health and Well-Being in a National Population-Based Study.
LGBT Health
10.1089/lgbt.2021.0473.
(In press).
Preview |
PDF
EM-SM LGBT Health Revised 3_Medarxiv.pdf - Accepted Version Download (630kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Purpose: This study employed an intersectional framework to examine impact of inequalities related to sexual minority (SM) and ethnic minority (EM) identities in risk for health, well-being, and health-related behaviors in a nationally representative sample. Methods: Participants included 9789 (51% female) adolescents aged 17 years from the U.K.-wide Millennium Cohort Study, with data on self-identified sexual and ethnic identities. Adolescents were grouped into White heterosexual, White-SM, EM-heterosexual, and EM-SM categories. Questionnaires assessed mental health (e.g., self-reported psychological distress, doctor-diagnosed depression, attempted suicide), general health (self-rated health, chronic illness, body mass index), and health-related behaviors (e.g., smoking, substance use). Associations were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: SM individuals (White: 18% and EM: 3%) had increased odds for mental health difficulties and attempted suicide, with higher odds for White-SM individuals than for EM-SM individuals. Compared with White heterosexual individuals, White-SM and EM-SM individuals had higher risk for psychological distress (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 3.47/2.24 for White-SM/EM-SM, respectively) and emotional symptoms (OR 3.17/1.65). They had higher odds for attempted suicide (OR 2.78/2.02), self-harm (OR 3.06/1.52), and poor sleep quality (OR 1.88/1.67). In contrast, the White heterosexual and White-SM groups had similarly high proportions reporting risky behaviors except for drug use (OR 1.45) and risky sex (OR 1.40), which were more common in White-SM individuals. EM-heterosexual and EM-SM individuals had decreased odds for health-related behaviors. Conclusion: SM (White and EM) individuals had substantially worse mental health compared with heterosexual peers. Adverse health-related behaviors were more common in White-SM individuals. Investigation into the mechanisms leading to these differences is needed.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Ethnic and Sexual Identity-Related Inequalities in Adolescent Health and Well-Being in a National Population-Based Study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1089/lgbt.2021.0473 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2021.0473 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | adolescence, health-related behaviors, ethnicity, health inequalities, mental health, sexual minority |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Social Research Institute UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10154978 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
