Newswise — According to data provided by lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) patients, these groups exhibit poorer health outcomes compared to heterosexual individuals. However, the most striking disparities are observed among bisexual individuals, who experience disproportionately worse health outcomes in England.
The recent findings, published in The Journal of Sex Research, highlight the additional health disparities faced by bisexual people within an already marginalized community. The research, conducted by experts from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Anglia Ruskin University, involved analyzing data from over 835,000 adults in England.
The study suggests that these disparities may be attributed to unique forms of prejudice and discrimination originating from both mainstream society and LGBTQ+ communities, which bisexual individuals are particularly vulnerable to.
According to Professor Carrie Llewellyn, the lead author and Head of the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, minority stress may significantly increase the risk of psychological issues and negative behaviors among bisexual individuals, ultimately leading to poorer health outcomes.
The study's findings indicate a higher prevalence of chronic physical health conditions among those identifying as LGB. Additionally, the survey revealed that almost all LGB individuals, irrespective of gender, expressed lower confidence in managing their own health.
As a Professor of Applied Behavioral Medicine, a behavioral scientist, and a Chartered Psychologist, Llewellyn points out that while persistent health disparities exist in LGB patients, there is limited understanding of the unique experiences faced by bisexual individuals.
The study fills this knowledge gap, highlighting that bisexual people, particularly women, encounter the most challenging healthcare experiences and exhibit the worst health outcomes compared to individuals of other sexual orientations.
In their study, the team analyzed data from 836,312 adults, which included 23,834 individuals identifying as LGB or 'other,' obtained from Ipsos MORI's 2015/16 English General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS). This survey collects health data from approximately 1% of the adult English population annually.
The researchers compared the health outcomes of those identifying as LGB with heterosexual groups, considering factors like self-reported quality of life, physical and mental health, and confidence in managing their own health. After accounting for age, ethnic group, working status, and socioeconomic status, they made the following findings:
- Long-term physical and mental health problems were more than twice as likely to be reported among individuals in LGB groups, except for bisexual women, who faced more than four times higher odds.
- Bisexual women reported being half as likely to live without a long-term health condition.
- Across genders, LGB groups expressed less confidence in managing their own health and experienced significantly worse quality of life compared to heterosexual individuals.
Professor Carrie Llewellyn emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the unique needs of subgroups within the LGB community, such as bisexual individuals. To provide equitable healthcare services, it is essential to gain a better understanding of the diverse spectrum of health requirements across LGBTQ+ subpopulations.
She suggests that healthcare settings should be modified to enhance perceived accessibility, and services should be tailored to meet these specific health needs effectively.
One of the key strengths of this study is the cross-sectional dataset, which represents 99% of the adult population in England, allowing for broad insights. However, the study acknowledges limitations in differentiating between marginalized sexual orientations among cisgender, transgender, and non-binary individuals due to survey design constraints during data collection (2015/16). Additionally, relying on self-reported health conditions from patients may lead to some inaccuracies as they might not always align with clinical diagnoses.
RSS