Brittain Danielle R, Dinger Mary K
Community Health Program, Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Northern Colorado , Greeley, CO, USA.
J Public Health Res. 2015 Feb 19;4(1):414. doi: 10.4081/jphr.2015.414. eCollection 2015 Feb 20.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students may have an increased number of health inequities compared to their heterosexual counterparts. However, to date, no research has provided a comprehensive examination of health-related factors by sexual orientation identity and sex among a national sample of college students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine physical, sexual, interpersonal relations/safety, and mental health inequities by sexual orientation identity and sex among a national sample of college students.
Participants (n=39,767) completed the National College Health Assessment II during the fall 2008/spring 2009 academic year. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine health inequities by sexual orientation identity and sex.
LGB students compared to heterosexual students, experienced multiple health inequities including higher rates of being verbally threatened and lower rates of physical activity and condom use.
An understanding of health inequities experienced by LGB college students is critical as during these years of transition, students engage in protective (e.g., physical activity) and risky (e.g., lack of condom use) health behaviours, establishing habits that could last a lifetime. Future research should be used to design and implement targeted public health strategies and policies to reduce health inequities and improve health-related quality of life among LGB college students. Significance for public healthHealth inequities based on sexual orientation identity and sex among college students is a critical public health concern. Based on the results of the current study, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students experienced multiple physical, sexual, interpersonal relations and safety, and mental health inequities. This understanding of health inequities experienced by LGB college students is critical as during these years of transition, students engage in protective (e.g., physical activity) and risky (e.g., lack of condom use) health behaviours, establishing habits that could last a lifetime. By intervening during the college years, targeted public health strategies and policies can be designed and implemented to reduce health inequities and improve health-related quality of life among LGB individuals during mid-to-later adulthood.
与异性恋大学生相比，女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋（LGB）大学生可能面临更多的健康不平等问题。然而，迄今为止，尚无研究在全国大学生样本中按性取向身份和性别对与健康相关的因素进行全面考察。因此，本研究的目的是在全国大学生样本中按性取向身份和性别考察身体、性、人际关系/安全和心理健康方面的不平等。
参与者（n = 39767）在2008年秋季/2009年春季学年完成了《全国大学生健康评估II》。采用分层二元逻辑回归分析按性取向身份和性别考察健康不平等。
与异性恋学生相比，LGB学生经历了多种健康不平等，包括受到言语威胁的比率更高，体育活动和使用避孕套的比率更低。
了解LGB大学生所经历的健康不平等至关重要，因为在这些转型期，学生们会采取保护性（如体育活动）和风险性（如不使用避孕套）的健康行为，养成可能伴随一生的习惯。未来的研究应用于设计和实施有针对性的公共卫生策略和政策，以减少健康不平等，提高LGB大学生的健康相关生活质量。对公共卫生的意义基于性取向身份和性别的大学生健康不平等是一个关键的公共卫生问题。根据本研究结果，女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋（LGB）大学生经历了多种身体、性、人际关系和安全以及心理健康方面的不平等。了解LGB大学生所经历的健康不平等至关重要，因为在这些转型期，学生们会采取保护性（如体育活动）和风险性（如不使用避孕套）的健康行为，养成可能伴随一生的习惯。通过在大学期间进行干预，可以设计和实施有针对性的公共卫生策略和政策，以减少健康不平等，提高LGB个体在成年中期至后期的健康相关生活质量。
