title: The importance of health(ism): A focus group study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer and transgender individuals' understandings of health.
abstract: This study investigated understandings of health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer and/or transgender people, who are under-represented in research. The study involved 12 focus groups in Aotearoa/New Zealand with 47 participants who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer and/or transgender and responded to an advert inviting participants without chronic illnesses. Three themes were inductively formulated: health is important because education and protection efforts are seen as required to preserve health, health is seen as holistic, and contextual factors are seen as creating health risks. These findings provide insights into how lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer and/or transgender people's understandings of health draw upon notions of healthism.
authors: University of Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand.
authors: Katie
authors: K
authors: Graham
authors: University of Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand.
authors: Gareth J
authors: GJ
authors: Treharne
authors: University of Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Ruzibiza
authors: University of Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Nicolson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063106:Transgender Persons; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; arthritis; focus groups; gender identity; healthism; qualitative methods; sexual orientation