Dating violence, quality of life and mental health in sexual minority populations: a path analysis.
Theories explaining the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health have focused on heterosexual relationships. It is unclear whether mental health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people are due to IPV or factors related to sexual orientation. The present study aimed to investigate pathways of how sexual orientation influenced quality of life and mental health.



The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 1076 young adults in a university population (934 heterosexual and 142 sexual minority groups). Structural equation modelling was used to examine the pathways of sexual orientation, dating violence, sexual orientation concealment, quality of life and mental health (perceived stress, anxiety and depression).



After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, quality of life in sexual minority people was poorer [estimate -2.82, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -4.77 to -0.86, p = 0.005], and stress (estimate 2.77, 95 % CI 1.64-3.92, p < 0.0001), anxiety (estimate 1.84, 95 % CI 1.13-2.56, p < 0.0001) and depression levels (estimate 0.62, 95 % CI 0.05-1.2, p < 0.0001) were higher than in heterosexual people. Dating violence and sexual orientation concealment were mediators, with the models showing a good fit.



Our study has progressed investigation of the link between sexual orientation and quality of life and mental health in the Chinese context. It has helped identify health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people and determined specific factors affecting their quality of life and mental health.
School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China. janetyh@hku.hk.
Janet Yuen-Ha
JY
Wong
School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Edmond Pui-Hang
EP
Choi
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Herman Hay-Ming
HH
Lo
School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 7/F, Lui Che Woo Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Wendy
W
Wong
Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, 10 Wai Tsui Crescent, Braemar Hill, North Point, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Jasmine Hin-Man
JH
Chio
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, The Centennial Campus, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Anna Wai-Man
AW
Choi
School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
Daniel Yee-Tak
DY
Fong
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Chinese; Dating violence; Mental health; Quality of life; Sexual minority
J Interpers Violence. 2007 May;22(5):623-38
17429026
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2016 Jul;17(3):284-97
26018210
Am J Public Health. 2010 Nov;100(11):2255-61
20864722
BMC Psychiatry. 2008 Aug 18;8:70
18706118
J Interpers Violence. 2013 Mar;28(5):1109-18
23008053
Int J Prev Med. 2013 Jul;4(7):809-17
24049600
Am J Public Health. 2014 Oct;104(10):e66-73
25121813
AIDS Behav. 2006 Jul;10(4 Suppl):S25-33
16715344
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001 Jan;58(1):85-91
11146762
J Homosex. 2013;60(4):615-38
23469820
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013 Feb;81(1):141-53
23276123
Behav Res Methods. 2008 Aug;40(3):879-91
18697684
Arch Intern Med. 2002 May 27;162(10):1157-63
12020187
PLoS Med. 2014 Mar 04;11(3):e1001609
24594975
J Interpers Violence. 2015 Feb;30(4):580-600
24923891
J Homosex. 2011;58(1):10-51
21213174
Psychol Bull. 2003 Sep;129(5):674-697
12956539
J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96
6668417
J Fam Pract. 2000 Oct;49(10):896-903
11052161
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2016 Dec;17(5):585-600
25979872
Qual Life Res. 2004 Mar;13(2):299-310
15085902
Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Dec;30(8):1019-29
20708315
Public Health. 2010 Mar;124(3):149-52
20202655
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2013 Apr;14(2):168-85
23271429
Am J Public Health. 2007 Nov;97(11):2048-55
17463371
Int J Psychosom. 1993;40(1-4):29-34
8070982
Violence Against Women. 2009 Jul;15(7):774-98
19451317
Stigma Res Action. 2011;1(1):27-35
21731850
J Interpers Violence. 2013 Aug;28(12):2491-504
23515165
J Homosex. 1981-1982 Winter-Spring;7(2-3):31-43
7346546
Am J Prev Med. 1998 May;14(4):245-58
9635069
Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2010;6:607-28
20192793
AIDS Educ Prev. 2009 Oct;21(5):430-46
19842827
Violence Against Women. 2012 Jul;18(7):725-45
22831848