HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250333. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250333. eCollection 2021.
This is the first study, of which we are aware, to evaluate the feasibility and accessibility of simultaneous use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and saliva collection for biomarker assessment as an objective measure of stress physiology among sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other non-heterosexual identities) individuals. The principal motivation for pairing GPS and saliva collection was to investigate how characteristics of the built and social environments along with participants' daily activity paths affect stress. This can contribute to a better understanding of health and health behaviors in the sexual minority community.
A convenience sample of enrolled participants (N = 124) from Houston, Texas was asked to complete questionnaires, carry with them a GPS unit daily, and collect and store 6 samples of saliva at specific times across the span of a day prior to a second visit around one week later.
Of 124 participants, 16 participants (12.90%) provided no useable GPS data and 98 (79.03%) provided at least 4 days of data. More than three-fourths (n = 98, 79.03%) also provided complete saliva samples.
Our results show that the simultaneous use of GPS and saliva collection to assess sexual minority individuals' activity paths and stress level is feasible.
据我们所知，这是第一项研究，旨在评估同时使用全球定位系统（GPS）和唾液收集来评估生物标志物作为性少数群体（女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、酷儿和其他非异性恋身份）个体应激生理的客观测量的可行性和可及性。将 GPS 和唾液收集配对的主要动机是调查建筑和社会环境的特征以及参与者的日常活动路径如何影响压力。这有助于更好地了解性少数群体社区的健康和健康行为。
从德克萨斯州休斯顿招募的 124 名参与者中抽取了一个方便的样本，要求他们完成问卷调查，每天携带 GPS 设备，并在一天内的特定时间收集和储存 6 份唾液样本，然后在一周后的第二次访问前进行。
在 124 名参与者中，有 16 名参与者（12.90%）提供了不可用的 GPS 数据，98 名参与者（79.03%）提供了至少 4 天的数据。超过四分之三（n = 98，79.03%）也提供了完整的唾液样本。
我们的结果表明，同时使用 GPS 和唾液收集来评估性少数群体个体的活动路径和应激水平是可行的。
