Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT: Very little is known about how the differential treatment of sexual minorities could influence subjective reports of overall well-being. This paper seeks to fill this gap. Data from two large surveys that provide nationally representative samples for two different countries -Australia and the UK - are used to estimate a simultaneous equations model of life satisfaction. The model allows for self-reported sexual identity to influence a measure of life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through seven different channels: (i) income; (ii) employment; (iii) health (iv) marriage and de facto relationships; (v) children; (vi) friendship networks; and (vii) education. Lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are found to be significantly less satisfied with their lives than otherwise comparable he

SUBMITTER: Powdthavee N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724784 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature