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Sexual orientation and mental and physical health status: Findings from a Dutch population survey

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  • Sandfort, T.G.M.
  • Bakker, F.
  • Schellevis, F.G.
  • Vanwesenbeeck, I.

Abstract

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 19 685 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandfort, T.G.M. & Bakker, F. & Schellevis, F.G. & Vanwesenbeeck, I., 2006. "Sexual orientation and mental and physical health status: Findings from a Dutch population survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(6), pages 1119-1125.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2004.058891_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.058891
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    Cited by:

    1. Shuai Chen & Jan C. Ours, 2018. "Subjective Well-being and Partnership Dynamics: Are Same-Sex Relationships Different?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2299-2320, December.
    2. Andersen, Judith P. & Zou, Christopher & Blosnich, John, 2015. "Multiple early victimization experiences as a pathway to explain physical health disparities among sexual minority and heterosexual individuals," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 111-119.
    3. Xia An & Qunlu Sun & Fang Fang & Zhanhong Rao & Xiaowen Li & Yunhong Lv & Tong Li & Aihua Lin, 2019. "The Prevalence of Depression Associated with the Infection Status and Sexual Behaviors among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shenzhen, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Saxby, Karinna & de New, Sonja C. & Petrie, Dennis, 2020. "Structural stigma and sexual orientation disparities in healthcare use: Evidence from Australian Census-linked-administrative data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    5. Chen, Shuai, 2019. "Marriage, minorities, and mass movements," Other publications TiSEM 9cb1b11d-12e6-46a8-adca-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Ryan J. Watson & Christopher W. Wheldon & Lars Wichstrøm & Stephen T. Russell, 2015. "Cross-National Investigation of Health Indicators among Sexual Minorities in Norway and the United States," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Manoj Kumar Honaryar & Yelena Tarasenko & Maribel Almonte & Vitaly Smelov, 2020. "Epidemiology of Cancers in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Protocol for Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-9, July.

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