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Changes in self-esteem and chronic disease across adulthood: A 16-year longitudinal analysis

Author(s): Liu SY; Wrosch C; Morin AJS; Quesnel-Vallée A; Pruessner JC;

Rationale: Self-esteem is an adaptive personality factor that has been associated with good physical health. While research has observed that self-esteem and physical health typically decline in older adulthood, there is a paucity of research investigating ...

Article GUID: 31639595

Explaining mental health disparities for non-monosexual women: abuse history and risky sex, or the burdens of non-disclosure?

Author(s): Persson TJ; Pfaus JG; Ryder AG;

Research has found that non-monosexual women report worse mental health than their heterosexual and lesbian counterparts. The reasons for these mental health discrepancies are unclear. This study investigated whether higher levels of child abuse and risky s...

Article GUID: 25223831

Reply to: Are stressful childhood experiences relevant in non-monosexual women?

Author(s): Persson TJ; Pfaus JG; Ryder AG;

No abstract available

Article GUID: 25459207


Title:Explaining mental health disparities for non-monosexual women: abuse history and risky sex, or the burdens of non-disclosure?
Authors:Persson TJPfaus JGRyder AG
Link:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25223831/
DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.038
Category:Soc Sci Med
PMID:25223831
Dept Affiliation: PSYCHOLOGY
1 Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology (SP 244), Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada. Electronic address: tj_perss@hotmail.com.
2 Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology (SP 244), Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada. Electronic address: jim.pfaus@concordia.ca.
3 Centre for Clinical Research in Health, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; Culture and Mental Health Research Unit and Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Canada. Electronic address: andrew.ryder@concordia.ca.

Description:

Research has found that non-monosexual women report worse mental health than their heterosexual and lesbian counterparts. The reasons for these mental health discrepancies are unclear. This study investigated whether higher levels of child abuse and risky sexual behavior, and lower levels of sexual orientation disclosure, may help explain elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety among non-monosexual women. Participants included 388 women living in Canada (Mean age = 24.40, SD = 6.40, 188 heterosexual, 53 mostly heterosexual, 64 bisexual, 32 mostly lesbian, 51 lesbian) who filled out the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories as part of an online study running from April 2011 to February 2014. Participants were collapsed into non-monosexual versus monosexual categories. Non-monosexual women reported more child abuse, risky sexual behavior, less sexual orientation disclosure, and more symptoms of depression and anxiety than monosexual women. Statistical mediation analyses, using conditional process modeling, revealed that sexual orientation disclosure and risky sexual behavior uniquely, but not sequentially, mediated the relation between sexual orientation, depression and anxiety. Sexual orientation disclosure and risky sexual behavior were both associated with depression and anxiety. Childhood abuse did not moderate depression, anxiety, or risky sexual behavior. Findings indicate that elevated levels of risky sexual behavior and deflated levels of sexual orientation disclosure may in part explain mental health disparities among non-monosexual women. Results highlight potential targets for preventive interventions aimed at decreasing negative mental health outcomes for non-monosexual women, such as public health campaigns targeting bisexual stigma and the development of sex education programs for vulnerable sexual minority women, such as those defining themselves as bisexual, mostly heterosexual, or mostly lesbian.