The health behaviour of homosexual and heterosexual women in context of theory of salutogenesis

Joanna Kotowska,Jacek Kurpisz,Ewa Nizio

doi:10.12740/app/125497

Abstract

Aim of the studyComparison of the particular health behaviours and levels of sense of coherence between groups of women who have sex with women (WSW) and women who have sex only with men.Subject or material and methodsThe groups of 33 WSW and 31 women who have sex only with men were investigated. The health behaviours were studied with Inventory of Health Behaviours and the author’s survey, physical activity the Polish version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the sense of coherence with SOC-29 scale. Probability of harmful or risky alcohol drinking was verified by the screening test CAGE (abbreviation from: Cut, Angry, Guilty, Empty).ResultsWomen who have sex exclusively with men scored higher than WSW in the positive mental attitude. WSW reported more frequent sexual contacts with strangers, admitted using more various psychoactive substances. WSW had lower rates of sense of comprehensibility and manageability and higher level of physical activity.DiscussionWSW and women who have sex only with men show many similarities in their health behaviour and sense of coherence. All the observed differences concern some aspects of less traditional and less healthy lifestyle and less positive mental attitude among WSW. It can be explained by a psychosocial situation and experienced minority stress in this population. Our observation coincides with the results of previous studies.ConclusionsWSW present characteristics which predispose to having more health problems, than women who have sexual contacts exclusively with men. We conclude that WSW should become receivers of special health prevention programs, adjusted to their specific needs.

Highlights

Health behaviour is defined as actions which are being taken to promote or harm physical andThe health behaviour of homosexual and heterosexual women in context of theory of salutogenesis 45Careful analysis of the data concerning women’s health behaviour shows that lesbians more often admit expressing anti health behaviour than heterosexual women
In terms of health behaviour, statistically significant differences were found in the following aspects: positive mental attitude as a part of the IZZ, psychoactive substances use and sexual contacts with strangers
The results presented above indicated a greater tendency of women who have sex with women to lead a less healthy lifestyle and show lower level of the particular components of the sense of coherence

Summary

Introduction

Health behaviour is defined as actions which are being taken to promote or harm physical andThe health behaviour of homosexual and heterosexual women in context of theory of salutogenesis 45Careful analysis of the data concerning women’s health behaviour shows that lesbians more often admit expressing anti health behaviour than heterosexual women. Lesbians were found to smoke most often among the entire LGBT population (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals), and more than heterosexual woman [4, 5] LGBT population in general is endangered by higher risk for psychoactive substances use than their heterosexual peers. It is being highlighted as a serious problem [6 – 9]. Some of them suggest that LB (lesbians and bisexual) women eat healthier than heterosexual ones, while others report that they have less healthy diet and are more likely to suffer from overweight and obesity [10,11]. LB women consume more alcohol per year than heterosexual ones, the percentage of addicted women is similar in both groups [13, 14]

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Conclusion