Przedworski Julia M, VanKim Nicole A, Eisenberg Marla E, McAlpine Donna D, Lust Katherine A, Laska Melissa N
Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Am J Prev Med. 2015 Jul;49(1):29-40. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.024. Epub 2015 May 18.
Sexual minority college students (i.e., those not identifying as heterosexual, or those reporting same-sex sexual activity) may be at increased risk of poor mental health, given factors such as minority stress, stigma, and discrimination. Such disparities could have important implications for students' academic achievement, future health, and social functioning. This study compares reports of mental disorder diagnoses, stressful life events, and frequent mental distress across five gender-stratified sexual orientation categories.
Data were from the 2007-2011 College Student Health Survey, which surveyed a random sample of college students (N=34,324) at 40 Minnesota institutions. Data analysis was conducted in 2013-2014. The prevalence of mental disorder diagnoses, frequent mental distress, and stressful life events were calculated for heterosexual, discordant heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, and unsure students. Logistic regression models were fit to estimate the association between sexual orientation and mental health outcomes.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual students were more likely to report any mental health disorder diagnosis than were heterosexual students (p<0.05). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and unsure students were significantly more likely to report frequent mental distress compared to heterosexual students (OR range, 1.6-2.7). All sexual minority groups, with the exception of unsure men, had significantly greater odds of experiencing two or more stressful life events (OR range, 1.3-2.8).
Sexual minority college students experience worse mental health than their heterosexual peers. These students may benefit from interventions that target the structural and social causes of these disparities, and individual-level interventions that consider their unique life experiences.
性少数群体大学生（即那些不认同自己为异性恋者，或报告有同性性行为的人），由于诸如少数群体压力、污名化和歧视等因素，心理健康状况不佳的风险可能更高。这种差异可能对学生的学业成绩、未来健康和社会功能产生重要影响。本研究比较了五个按性别分层的性取向类别中精神障碍诊断报告、应激性生活事件和频繁的精神困扰情况。
数据来自2007 - 2011年大学生健康调查，该调查对明尼苏达州40所院校的大学生随机样本（N = 34324）进行了调查。数据分析于2013 - 2014年进行。计算了异性恋、不一致性异性恋、男同性恋或女同性恋、双性恋以及不确定学生的精神障碍诊断患病率、频繁的精神困扰和应激性生活事件。采用逻辑回归模型来估计性取向与心理健康结果之间的关联。
女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋学生比异性恋学生更有可能报告任何心理健康障碍诊断（p < 0.05）。与异性恋学生相比，女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和不确定学生报告频繁精神困扰的可能性显著更高（OR范围为1.6 - 2.7）。除不确定的男性外，所有性少数群体经历两次或更多应激性生活事件的几率显著更高（OR范围为1.3 - 2.8）。
性少数群体大学生的心理健康状况比他们的异性恋同龄人更差。这些学生可能会从针对这些差异的结构性和社会原因的干预措施，以及考虑到他们独特生活经历的个体层面干预措施中受益。
