Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26298574›Full record

ArticleSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2016

Sexual orientation disparities in physical health: age and gender effects in a population-based study.

Richard Bränström, Mark L Hatzenbuehler, John E Pachankis

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 71 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
71citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
9.3field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

71 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 140 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. Self-rated health and inflammation: Associations among partnered sexual minority and heterosexual adults.Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2026
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11 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Richard BränströmDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. richard.branstrom@ki.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5889-2481
Mark L HatzenbuehlerDepartment of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
John E PachankisChronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
Columbia University · USKarolinska Institutet · SEYale University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent studies have identified substantial health disparities between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals compared to heterosexuals. However, possible variation in sexual orientation health disparities by age and according to gender remains largely unexplored. PURPOSE: To examine physical health disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals in a general population sample in Sweden, to explore potential age and gender differences in these disparities, and to test potential mechanisms underlying any observed disparities.

methodBetween 2008 and 2013, 60,922 individuals (16-84 years of age) responded to nationwide population-based health surveys. In the sample, 430 (0.7%) individuals self-identified as gay/lesbian and 757 (1.3%) self-identified as bisexual. Logistic and negative binomial regression analyses were used to explore health disparities based on sexual orientation.

resultsOverall, LGB individuals were more likely to report worse self-rated health as well as more physical health symptoms (e.g., pain, insomnia, dermatitis, tinnitus, intestinal problems) and conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure) compared to heterosexuals. However, these physical health disparities differed by age. Disparities were largest among adolescents and young adults and generally smallest in older age groups. Health behaviors and elevated reports of exposure to perceived discrimination, victimization, and threats of violence among sexual minorities partially explained the sexual orientation disparities in physical health.

conclusionsAge emerged as an important effect modifier of physical health disparities based on sexual orientation. Gender-specific findings suggest that sexual orientation disparities persist into adulthood for women but are gradually attenuated for older age groups; in contrast, for men, these disparities disappear starting with young adults. These results support a developmental model of minority stress and physical health among LGB individuals.

Indexed as

Health Status DisparitiesAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsBisexualityFemaleHealth SurveysHeterosexualityHomosexuality, FemaleHomosexuality, MaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSex FactorsGay/bisexualHealth behaviorsLife spanMinority stressSelf-rated healthSexual orientation

Identifiers

PMID26298574
PMCPMC4747986
OpenAlexW1830886897

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.