Sexual Orientation and Health: The Role of Relationship Status and Children

Esther O. Lamidi, Bowling Green State University

The health and wellbeing of sexual minorities and their families is a question receiving growing concern. Using data from the 2011 and 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we examine the self-reported health of gay, lesbian, and bisexual single and partnered adults in 14 states in the US. Assessments of health of heterosexuals and sexual minorities depend on their gender, relationship status, and presence of children. Gay and lesbian singles living with children report poorer health than heterosexual singles while partnered gays, lesbians and cohabiting heterosexuals living with children share similar levels of poor health. Heterosexual married men and gay cohabiting men with children fare similarly in terms of health, while lesbian cohabiting women report poorer health than heterosexual married women. Socioeconomic and health-care access indicators are related to health, but it is the socioeconomic factors that explain some of the union and sexual minority status differentials.