Health priorities and perceived health determinants among Western Australians attending the 2011 LGBTI Perth Pride Fairday Festival
Jude Comfort A B and Kahlia McCausland AA Curtin University, WA Centre for Health Promotion Research, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: j.comfort@curtin.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 24(1) 20-25 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE12906
Submitted: 22 June 2012 Accepted: 18 October 2012 Published: 21 March 2013
Abstract
Issue addressed: Although data exist demonstrating poorer health indicators on a range of health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) people, there is little information as to how this group perceives the relative importance of different health issues or what the underlying reasons behind poorer health may be.
Method: A self-completed survey was administered to people attending the October 2011 LGBTI Perth Pride Fairday Festival. Three hundred and fifty-one people completed the survey, resulting in a total of 335 useable surveys. One hundred and seventy-eight participants identified as female, 145 as male, four as transgender and eight as other genders.
Results: Depression, anxiety, excessive worry or panic attacks and problems in family relationships were reported as the most important individual health issues, whereas depression, suicide and HIV/AIDS were seen as the most important health issues affecting the LGBTI community. Discrimination was rated the most important social factor impacting on the health and well being of this community.
Conclusions: When members of the LGBTI community were asked to rank health issues of importance both individually and as a community, the results indicate that mental health issues are of prime concern. Discrimination and the stress of living as part of this minority group were seen as contributing to this. Health promotion and public health need to be responsive to these issues if real gains are to be made in reducing the health inequities affecting this group.
So what?: This research highlights the link between social justice, social inclusion and health outcomes. The health of LGBTI people is rarely considered by mainstream agencies, despite poorer health outcomes. Sensitive and targeted public health interventions that resonate with the community and that acknowledge the impact of being part of this marginalised group are required.
Key words: gender identity, sexual orientation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI), health priorities, determinants of health.
References
[1] Rogers G (2007) Health priorities and perceived health determinants among South Australians attending GLBTI festival events. Health Promot J Austr 18, 57–62.[2] Conron KJ, Mimiaga MJ, Landers SJ (2010) A population-based study of sexual orientation identity and gender differences in adult health. Am J Public Health 100, 1953–60.
| A population-based study of sexual orientation identity and gender differences in adult health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20516373PubMed |
[3] Makadon H, Mayer K, Potter J, Goldhammer M, editors. Fenway guide to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. Philadelphia: American College of Physicians; 2008.
[4] Pitts M, Smith A, Mitchell A, Patel S. Private lives: a report on the health and wellbeing of GLBTI Australians. Monograph series number 57. Melbourne: Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University; 2006.
[5] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey report. Canberra: AIHW; 2011.
[6] Meyer I, Northridge M, editors. The health of sexual minorities: public health perspectives on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations. New York: Springer; 2007.
[7] Dorrington B. Fairday This Weekend. 2011. Available from: http://www.outinperth.com/fairday-this-weekend/ [Verified 13 February 2013].
[8] IBM. SPSS Statistics 19. Chicago: SPSS Inc.; 2010.
[9] McNair R, Gleitzman M, Hillier L (2006) Challenging research: methodological barriers to inclusion of lesbian and bisexual women in Australian population-based health research. Gay Lesbian Issues Psychol Rev 2, 114–27.
[10] Binson D, Blair J, Huebner D, Woods W. Sampling in surveys of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. In Meyer I, Northridge M, editors. The health of sexual minorities: public health perspectives on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations (pp. 375–418). New York: Springer; 2007.
[11] Meyer I, Wilson P (2009) Sampling lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. J Couns Psychol 56, 23–31.
| Sampling lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[12] IOM (Institute of Medicine). The health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: building a foundation for better understanding. Washington DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.
[13] Liamputtong L, editor. Research methods in health: foundations for evidence-based practice. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; 2010.
[14] Johnson CV, Mimiaga M, Bradford J (2008) Health care issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) populations in the United States: introduction. J Homosex 54, 213–24.
| Health care issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) populations in the United States: introduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18825859PubMed |
[15] Dean L, Meyer I, Robinson K, Sell R, Sember R, Silenzio V, Bowen D, Bradford J, Rothblum E, Scout M, White J, Dunn P, Lawrence A, Wolfe D, Xavier J (2000) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health: findings and concerns. J Gay Lesbian Med Assoc 4, 102–51.
| Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health: findings and concerns.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Healthy people 2010 companion document for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health. San Francisco: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association; 2001.
[17] Owens G, Riggle E, Rostosky S (2007) Mental health services access for sexual minority individuals. Sex Res Soc Policy 4, 92–9.
| Mental health services access for sexual minority individuals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[18] Meyer IH (2003) Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychol Bull 129, 674–97.
| Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12956539PubMed |
[19] Mills TC, Paul J, Stall R, Pollack L, Canchola J, Chang J, Moskowitz J, Catania J (2004) Distress and depression in men who have sex with men: the Urban Men’s Health Study. Am J Psychiatry 161, 278–285.
| Distress and depression in men who have sex with men: the Urban Men’s Health Study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14754777PubMed |
[20] Cochran SD, Sullivan JG, Mays VM (2003) Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States. J Consult Clin Psychol 71, 53–61.
| Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12602425PubMed |
[21] Smith AM, Rissel C, Richters J, Grulich A, DeVisser R (2003) Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 27, 138–45.
| Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696704PubMed |
[22] Warner J, McKeown E, Groffin M, Johnson K, Ramsey A, Cort C, King M (2004) Rates and predictors or mental illness in gay men, lesbians and bisexual men and women. Br J Psychiatry 185, 479–85.
| Rates and predictors or mental illness in gay men, lesbians and bisexual men and women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15572738PubMed |
[23] Department of Health and Ageing. Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws–General Law Reform) Act 2008. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing. 2009. Available from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/samesexbill [Verified 17 November 2011].
[24] Meyer I. Prejudice and discrimination as social stressors. In Meyer I, Northridge M, editors. The health of sexual minorities: public health perspectives on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations (pp. 242–67). New York: Springer; 2007.
[25] McNair R, Anderson S, Mitchell A (2001) Addressing health inequalities in Victorian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Health Promot J Austr 11, 32–8.
