title: Health Status and Risk Behaviors of Sexual Minorities Among Chinese Adolescents: A School-Based Survey.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the association between sexual orientation and health disparities among a stratified random sample of 3776 secondary students in Hong Kong. The prevalence of homosexuality and bisexuality were 1.5% and 2.6% in boys and 1.8% and 3.7% in girls, respectively. A total of 10.7% of boys and 8.8% of girls were unsure of their sexual orientation. Homosexual and bisexual boys reported poorer physical and mental health than their heterosexual peers. Homosexual and bisexual boys were more likely to engage in smoking, frequent drinking, and vaginal sex and be subjected to sexually transmitted disease and sexual victimization. However, lesbian and bisexual girls were less likely to engage in risky health behaviors except for smoking and being subjected to sexual victimization. There is a gender-specific problem that may warrant prevention and intervention programs to address the unique health issues facing homosexual and bisexual adolescents in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social Work, The School of Sociology and Population Studies , Renmin University of China , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: William C W
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: d Family Planning Association of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: e Department of Social Work and Social Administration , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.|f Center for Suicide Research and Prevention , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Paul S F
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex
keywords: Hong Kong Chinese adolescents; mental health; physical health; risky behaviors; school survey; sexual minority; sexual orientation