Abstract
This study examined relationships among wellness behaviors, physical health conditions, mental health, health insurance, and access to care among a sample of 317 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults. Participants completed a web-administered survey from May 2013 to April 2014. Of the sample, 41.6% of the participants reported having one or more health conditions. Most participants (92.1%) reported access to a health care facility and current health insurance coverage (84.9%), though 24.9% of those with health insurance reported being incapable of paying the copayments. Physical health conditions, age, and self-esteem explained 24% of the variance in engagement in wellness behaviors; older age, a greater number of health conditions, higher self-esteem, possession of health insurance, and ability to access to care were associated with increased wellness behaviors. Providing affordable insurance coverage, improving access to care, and properly treating mental health in LGBT individuals could improve wellness behaviors.
Highlights
On Oct. 6, 2016, the director of the U.S National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) announced sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals as a designated population for health disparity research under the National Institute of Health [1]
The 2020 Healthy People report suggests that LGBT individuals face health disparities related to discrimination, social stigma, and denial of civil and human rights [4]
The purpose of the current study was to document rates of common, potentially serious, and/or chronic health conditions, of health care insurance, and of access to care among a sample of LGBT adults
Summary
On Oct. 6, 2016, the director of the U.S National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) announced sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals as a designated population for health disparity research under the National Institute of Health [1]. The 2020 Healthy People report suggests that LGBT individuals face health disparities related to discrimination, social stigma, and denial of civil and human rights [4]. This discrimination has been linked to higher rates of substance use, psychiatric disorders, and suicide [4]. These inclusions have brought greater attention to documenting and understanding the health disparities that exist in the LGBT community
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