title: Minority stress and physical health among sexual minority individuals.
abstract: This study examined the effects of minority stress on the physical health of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs). Participants (N = 396) completed baseline and one year follow-up interviews. Exposure to stress and health outcomes were assessed with two methods: a subjective self-appraisal method and a method whereby two independent judges externally rated event narratives using standardized criteria. The odds of experiencing a physical health problem at follow-up were significantly higher among LGBs who experienced an externally rated prejudice event during the follow-up period compared to those who did not. This association persisted after adjusting for experiences of general stressful life events that were not related to prejudice. Self-appraised minority stress exposures were not associated with poorer physical health at 1-year follow-up. Prejudice-related stressful life events have a unique deleterious impact on health that persists above and beyond the effect of stressful life events unrelated to prejudice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue B2, New York, NY, 10032, USA, dmf2119@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Keren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehavot
authors.forename: Ilan H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult