Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Background To determine whether the fundamental cause theory (which posits that in societal conditions of unequal power and resources, members of higher status groups experience better health because of their disproportionate access to health-protective factors compared with lower-status individuals) might be relevant to explaining sexual orientation health disparities. Methods We used morbidity data for the years 2001–2011 from the Stockholm Public Health cohort, a representative general population-based study in Sweden. A total of 66 604 (92.0%) individuals identified as heterosexual, 848 (1.2%) as homosexual, and 806 (1.1%) as bisexual. To test fundamental cause theory we classified diseases in terms of preventability potential (low vs high). Results There were no sexual orientation differences in morbidity due to low-preventable diseases. In contrast, Gay/bisexual men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]|=|1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13, 1.93) and lesbian/bisexual women (AOR|=|1.64; 95% CI: 1.28, 2.10) had a greater risk of high-preventable morbidity than heterosexual men and women, respectively. These differences were sustained in analyses adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Both gay/bisexual men and lesbian/bisexual women showed higher prevalence of illness compared with heterosexuals for high-preventable morbidity.
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2588818381