Acceptance of sexual minorities and the mediating role of social capital on health and well-being among members of same-sex and opposite-sex couples across Europe
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Background Awareness of health disparities based on sexual orientation has increased during the past decades. Public health policy and research have begun to address the issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, and many official public health agencies call for program addressing the specific needs of LGBT individuals. However, population level of acceptance of LGBT individuals varies greatly in different countries in Europe. In the current study, differences in self-rated health and subjective well-being between individuals living in same-sex or in opposite-sex couples was examined and how it was related to discrimination and country level acceptance of sexual minorities. Further, the mediating role of social capital on these associations was examined. Methods From the 2010 European Social Survey (n = 50,781), 315 individuals living with a same-sex partner were matched and compared to an equal number of individuals living in opposite-sex couples. Structural equation modelling analyses were performed to estimate path coefficients, mediations, and interactions. Results As distinct from sexual orientation, sexuality-based discrimination had a significantly negative effect on self-related health and subjective well-being. Acceptance of sexual minorities was significantly related to better self-rated health and subjective well-being among all individuals, and this association was partially mediated by individual social capital. No differences were found between individuals living in same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Conclusions Discrimination based on sexual orientation was found to be associated with health and well-being of individuals living in same-sex couples. The findings from this study suggest that acceptance of sexual minorities and social capital, at both individual and societal level, is a potential predictor of these outcomes.
Authors: A van der Star, R Bränström
Institutions: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Karolinska Institutet
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2588359218