title: Factors Associated with Sexual Orientation and Gender Disparities in Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research investigated factors associated with sexual orientation disparities in chronic pain frequency among youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from 4534 female and 3785 male youth from Waves I-IV (1995-2009) of the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Gender-stratified weighted logistic regression models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics and included sexual orientation (primary predictor) and frequency of three types of chronic pain (outcomes). Models with sexual orientation only were compared to models with factors hypothesized to increase or decrease risk of pain. Significant odds ratios (OR) for chronic pain frequency (daily/weekly vs. rarely) with confidence intervals (CI) and associated factors are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to same-gender heterosexual females, mostly heterosexuals were more likely to report headaches (OR=1.40, CI=1.09, 1.79) and mostly heterosexuals and bisexuals were more likely to report muscle/joint pain (mostly heterosexual OR=1.69, CI=1.29, 2.20; bisexual OR=1.87, CI=1.03, 3.38). Compared to same-gender heterosexual males, gay males were more likely to report headaches (OR=2.00, CI=1.06, 3.82), but less likely to report muscle/joint pain (OR=0.28, CI=0.11, 0.74). Significant disparities were attenuated by up to 16% when associated factors were added to the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual orientation disparities in chronic pain were partially explained by associated factors, but more research is needed to develop intervention and prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Sabra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Katz-Wise
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 380 S 1530 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Rope Ferry Rd, Hanover, NH 03755-1404 USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Carly E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Milliren
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA ; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: S Bryn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Austin
keywords: adolescence; chronic pain; sexual orientation