Structural stigma and all-cause mortality among sexual minorities: Differences by sexual behavior?

ABSTRACT: Using updated data from the General Social Survey/National Death Index (GSS/NDI) study, we examined whether the relationship between structural stigma-measured by aggregating 4 items assessing prejudice towards homosexuality to the community level-and all-cause mortality is present among gay men/lesbian women. Our hypothesis is based on emerging evidence that indicators of structural stigma specific to homosexuality, such as those used in the GSS/NDI, uniquely predict health outcomes among this group. Because the GSS/NDI lacked an identity-based measure of sexual orientation, we tested our hypothesis by employing a strategy that has a relatively high degree of sensitivity and specificity for ascertaining individuals most likely to identify as gay or lesbian: restricting analyses to individ

SUBMITTER: Hatzenbuehler ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6926145 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature