Health disparities among millennial veterans by sexual orientation
APA Citation:
Houghtaling, L., & Osypuk, T. L. (2023). Health disparities among millennial veterans by sexual orientation. Military Psychology, 35(3), 204-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2099708
Focus:
Veterans
Substance use
Physical health
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Houghtaling, Laura, Osypuk, Theresa L.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to examine sexual orientation-based disparities in six self-reported health outcomes among millennial aged military veterans. We collected data using The Millennial Veteran Health Study, a cross-sectional internet-based survey with extensive quality control measures. The survey was fielded April through December 2020 and targeted millennial aged veterans across the United States. A total of 680 eligible respondents completed the survey. We assessed six binary health outcomes: alcohol use, marijuana use, frequent chronic pain, opioid misuse, high psychological distress, and fair or poor health status. Using logistic regression adjusted for a range of demographic, socioeconomic, and military-based covariates, we find that bisexual veterans consistently report worse health than straight veterans for all six health outcomes tested. Results for gay or lesbian, compared to straight veterans, were less consistent. Sensitivity models with continuous outcomes, and stratified by gender, found similar results. These results have implications for improving the health of bisexual individuals, including addressing discrimination, belonging, and social identity, particularly in institutional settings that have traditionally heteronormative and masculine cultures such as the military.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:
Article
Author Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, LH
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, TLO
Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, LH
Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, TLO
Keywords:
health disparity, sexual orientation, millennials, LGBTQ
Sponsors:
The authors were supported by a pilot grant from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, Hawley faculty pilot program (PI: Osypuk). The authors were also supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant number P2C HD041023 (PI: Osypuk), supporting the Minnesota Population Center, and T32HD095134 (PIs: Warren and Osypuk), supporting the Population Health Science Training Program.