Sexual orientation and mental and physical health status: findings from a Dutch population survey.
Am J Public Health
; 96(6): 1119-25, 2006 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16670235
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
We sought to determine whether sexual orientation is related to mental and physical health and health behaviors in the general population.METHODS:
Data was derived from a health interview survey that was part of the second Dutch National Survey of General Practice, carried out in 2001 among an all-age random sample of the population. Of the 19685 persons invited to participate, 65% took part in the survey. Sexual orientation was assessed in persons aged 18 years and older and reported by 98.2% of 9684 participants. The respondents' characteristics are comparable with those of the Dutch general population.RESULTS:
Gay/lesbian participants reported more acute mental health symptoms than heterosexual people and their general mental health also was poorer. Gay/lesbian people more frequently reported acute physical symptoms and chronic conditions than heterosexual people. Differences in smoking, alcohol use, and drug use were less prominent.CONCLUSIONS:
We found that sexual orientation was associated with mental as well as physical health. The causal processes responsible for these differences by sexual orientation need further exploration.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde
/
Doença Aguda
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Doença Crônica
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Indicadores Básicos de Saúde
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Sexualidade
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Medicina de Família e Comunidade
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Transtornos Mentais
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2006
Tipo de documento:
Article