Cross-national investigation of health indicators among sexual minorities in Norway and the United States

Ryan J. Watson; Christopher W. Wheldon; Lars Wichstrøm; Stephen T. Russell

doi:10.3390/socsci4041006

Cross-national investigation of health indicators among sexual minorities in Norway and the United States

Ryan J. Watson, Christopher W. Wheldon, Lars Wichstrøm, Stephen T. Russell

Family and Consumer Sciences, School of

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A cross-national study of young adult sexual minorities was conducted in order to explore the associations between sexual orientation and measures of depression, suicidality, and substance use. Two nationally representative data sets were explored from the United States (N = 14,335) and Norway (N = 2423). Results indicated that sexual minorities experienced multiple health disparities (depression, suicidality, and substance use) compared to their heterosexual counterparts. We found similar patterns of depression, suicidality, and substance use for sexual minorities in both the United States and Norway. The highest odds of substance use were among heterosexual-identified Norwegian youth who reported same-sex sexual activity, and the highest odds of suicidality were found for bisexual young adults in Norway. These findings have implications for how we consider culture and social policy as barriers and/or opportunities for sexual minorities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1006-1019
Number of pages	14
Journal	Social Sciences
Volume	4
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci4041006
State	Published - 2015

Keywords

Culture
Health disparities
LGB
MSM
Psychosocial adjustment
WSW

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Social Sciences

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10.3390/socsci4041006

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title = "Cross-national investigation of health indicators among sexual minorities in Norway and the United States",

abstract = "A cross-national study of young adult sexual minorities was conducted in order to explore the associations between sexual orientation and measures of depression, suicidality, and substance use. Two nationally representative data sets were explored from the United States (N = 14,335) and Norway (N = 2423). Results indicated that sexual minorities experienced multiple health disparities (depression, suicidality, and substance use) compared to their heterosexual counterparts. We found similar patterns of depression, suicidality, and substance use for sexual minorities in both the United States and Norway. The highest odds of substance use were among heterosexual-identified Norwegian youth who reported same-sex sexual activity, and the highest odds of suicidality were found for bisexual young adults in Norway. These findings have implications for how we consider culture and social policy as barriers and/or opportunities for sexual minorities.",

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AU - Watson, Ryan J.

AU - Wheldon, Christopher W.

AU - Wichstrøm, Lars

AU - Russell, Stephen T.

PY - 2015

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N2 - A cross-national study of young adult sexual minorities was conducted in order to explore the associations between sexual orientation and measures of depression, suicidality, and substance use. Two nationally representative data sets were explored from the United States (N = 14,335) and Norway (N = 2423). Results indicated that sexual minorities experienced multiple health disparities (depression, suicidality, and substance use) compared to their heterosexual counterparts. We found similar patterns of depression, suicidality, and substance use for sexual minorities in both the United States and Norway. The highest odds of substance use were among heterosexual-identified Norwegian youth who reported same-sex sexual activity, and the highest odds of suicidality were found for bisexual young adults in Norway. These findings have implications for how we consider culture and social policy as barriers and/or opportunities for sexual minorities.

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Cross-national investigation of health indicators among sexual minorities in Norway and the United States

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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