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Sexual Orientation, Health, and Well-Being in Spanish People
Roberto Matías1, M Pilar Matud1
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 10, 2024
Summary
Sexual orientation impacts health and well-being. Bisexual individuals reported poorer health and lower self-esteem, while self-esteem and social support acted as protective factors for all sexual orientations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Existing research highlights health outcome disparities between heterosexual and lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals.
- Fewer studies have investigated subjective well-being and protective health factors within diverse sexual orientation groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the significance of sexual orientation for the health and well-being of both women and men.
- To identify protective and risk factors influencing psychological distress, self-rated health, and overall well-being across various sexual orientations (gay men, lesbian women, bisexual individuals, and heterosexual individuals).
Main Methods:
- A sample of 908 women and 586 men (aged 16-64) from the general Spanish population participated.
- The sample was equally divided between LGB and heterosexual individuals.
- Participants completed eight questionnaires and inventories assessing health and well-being indicators.
Main Results:
- Health outcome differences varied by the specific health indicator examined.
- Bisexual individuals generally reported the poorest health, characterized by lower self-rated health and self-esteem.
- Self-esteem emerged as a significant protective factor against psychological distress, correlating with better health and well-being across all groups. Social support also demonstrated protective effects.
Conclusions:
- Sexual orientation is a relevant factor influencing individual health and well-being.
- Significant variations exist among sexual minorities, with bisexual individuals exhibiting lower self-esteem compared to homosexual individuals.
- Self-esteem and social support are crucial protective factors for mental health and overall well-being, irrespective of sexual orientation.
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