Self-reported sexual and psychosocial health among non-heterosexual Danes

Christian Graugaard; Annamaria Giraldi; Morten Frisch; Lene Falgaard Eplov; Michael Davidsen

doi:10.1177/1403494814563371

Self-reported sexual and psychosocial health among non-heterosexual Danes

Christian Graugaard, Annamaria Giraldi, Morten Frisch, Lene Falgaard Eplov, Michael Davidsen

Department of Clinical Medicine

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the sexual and psychosocial health of non-heterosexual Danes. Based on a large population study, the aim of this article was to compare quality-of-life-related key variables of heterosexual and non-heterosexual men and women, aged 16-66.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the nationwide, representative Health and Morbidity Survey (n = 8496) were used to compare variables concerning both general and sexual well-being of self-identified heterosexual and non-heterosexual respondents.

RESULTS: Nearly twice as many non-heterosexual than heterosexual men rated their sexual life as bad or very bad (22.5% versus 12.8%), while no statistical difference was seen among women (13.6% versus 10.6%). For both genders, significantly more non-heterosexuals than heterosexuals stated that their sexual needs were not met (17.9% versus 7.7% for men and 14.8% versus 6.9% for women), and significantly more non-heterosexuals reported acts of sexual violence (8.3% versus 2.1% for men and 35.8% versus 13.0% for women). Finally, non-heterosexual respondents had contemplated suicide more than twice as often as heterosexuals (15.9% versus 7.4% for men and 19.7% versus 8.3% for women). Actual suicide attempts were roughly three times more frequent in the non-heterosexual groups (8.3% versus 2.6 % for men and 11.8% versus 4.2% for women).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, non-heterosexual Danes reported higher degrees of sexual and/or psychosocial distress than heterosexuals further research is needed; but scientists, clinicians and public health workers should be aware that non-heterosexuals may pose specific health-related challenges and requirements.

Original language	English
Journal	Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Volume	43
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	309-14
Number of pages	6
ISSN	1403-4948
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494814563371
Publication status	Published - May 2015

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Denmark
Diagnostic Self Evaluation
Female
Health Surveys
Heterosexuality
Homosexuality, Female
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Personal Satisfaction
Self Report
Sex Offenses
Stress, Psychological
Suicide
Young Adult

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/1403494814563371

Cite this

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title = "Self-reported sexual and psychosocial health among non-heterosexual Danes",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the sexual and psychosocial health of non-heterosexual Danes. Based on a large population study, the aim of this article was to compare quality-of-life-related key variables of heterosexual and non-heterosexual men and women, aged 16-66.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the nationwide, representative Health and Morbidity Survey (n = 8496) were used to compare variables concerning both general and sexual well-being of self-identified heterosexual and non-heterosexual respondents.RESULTS: Nearly twice as many non-heterosexual than heterosexual men rated their sexual life as bad or very bad (22.5% versus 12.8%), while no statistical difference was seen among women (13.6% versus 10.6%). For both genders, significantly more non-heterosexuals than heterosexuals stated that their sexual needs were not met (17.9% versus 7.7% for men and 14.8% versus 6.9% for women), and significantly more non-heterosexuals reported acts of sexual violence (8.3% versus 2.1% for men and 35.8% versus 13.0% for women). Finally, non-heterosexual respondents had contemplated suicide more than twice as often as heterosexuals (15.9% versus 7.4% for men and 19.7% versus 8.3% for women). Actual suicide attempts were roughly three times more frequent in the non-heterosexual groups (8.3% versus 2.6 % for men and 11.8% versus 4.2% for women).CONCLUSIONS: Overall, non-heterosexual Danes reported higher degrees of sexual and/or psychosocial distress than heterosexuals further research is needed; but scientists, clinicians and public health workers should be aware that non-heterosexuals may pose specific health-related challenges and requirements.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Diagnostic Self Evaluation, Female, Health Surveys, Heterosexuality, Homosexuality, Female, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Self Report, Sex Offenses, Stress, Psychological, Suicide, Young Adult",

author = "Christian Graugaard and Annamaria Giraldi and Morten Frisch and {Falgaard Eplov}, Lene and Michael Davidsen",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2015 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.",

year = "2015",

month = may,

doi = "10.1177/1403494814563371",

language = "English",

volume = "43",

pages = "309--14",

journal = "Acta socio-medica Scandinavica",

issn = "1403-4948",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-reported sexual and psychosocial health among non-heterosexual Danes

AU - Graugaard, Christian

AU - Giraldi, Annamaria

AU - Frisch, Morten

AU - Falgaard Eplov, Lene

AU - Davidsen, Michael

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the sexual and psychosocial health of non-heterosexual Danes. Based on a large population study, the aim of this article was to compare quality-of-life-related key variables of heterosexual and non-heterosexual men and women, aged 16-66.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the nationwide, representative Health and Morbidity Survey (n = 8496) were used to compare variables concerning both general and sexual well-being of self-identified heterosexual and non-heterosexual respondents.RESULTS: Nearly twice as many non-heterosexual than heterosexual men rated their sexual life as bad or very bad (22.5% versus 12.8%), while no statistical difference was seen among women (13.6% versus 10.6%). For both genders, significantly more non-heterosexuals than heterosexuals stated that their sexual needs were not met (17.9% versus 7.7% for men and 14.8% versus 6.9% for women), and significantly more non-heterosexuals reported acts of sexual violence (8.3% versus 2.1% for men and 35.8% versus 13.0% for women). Finally, non-heterosexual respondents had contemplated suicide more than twice as often as heterosexuals (15.9% versus 7.4% for men and 19.7% versus 8.3% for women). Actual suicide attempts were roughly three times more frequent in the non-heterosexual groups (8.3% versus 2.6 % for men and 11.8% versus 4.2% for women).CONCLUSIONS: Overall, non-heterosexual Danes reported higher degrees of sexual and/or psychosocial distress than heterosexuals further research is needed; but scientists, clinicians and public health workers should be aware that non-heterosexuals may pose specific health-related challenges and requirements.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the sexual and psychosocial health of non-heterosexual Danes. Based on a large population study, the aim of this article was to compare quality-of-life-related key variables of heterosexual and non-heterosexual men and women, aged 16-66.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the nationwide, representative Health and Morbidity Survey (n = 8496) were used to compare variables concerning both general and sexual well-being of self-identified heterosexual and non-heterosexual respondents.RESULTS: Nearly twice as many non-heterosexual than heterosexual men rated their sexual life as bad or very bad (22.5% versus 12.8%), while no statistical difference was seen among women (13.6% versus 10.6%). For both genders, significantly more non-heterosexuals than heterosexuals stated that their sexual needs were not met (17.9% versus 7.7% for men and 14.8% versus 6.9% for women), and significantly more non-heterosexuals reported acts of sexual violence (8.3% versus 2.1% for men and 35.8% versus 13.0% for women). Finally, non-heterosexual respondents had contemplated suicide more than twice as often as heterosexuals (15.9% versus 7.4% for men and 19.7% versus 8.3% for women). Actual suicide attempts were roughly three times more frequent in the non-heterosexual groups (8.3% versus 2.6 % for men and 11.8% versus 4.2% for women).CONCLUSIONS: Overall, non-heterosexual Danes reported higher degrees of sexual and/or psychosocial distress than heterosexuals further research is needed; but scientists, clinicians and public health workers should be aware that non-heterosexuals may pose specific health-related challenges and requirements.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Diagnostic Self Evaluation

KW - Female

KW - Health Surveys

KW - Heterosexuality

KW - Homosexuality, Female

KW - Homosexuality, Male

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Personal Satisfaction

KW - Self Report

KW - Sex Offenses

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Suicide

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1177/1403494814563371

DO - 10.1177/1403494814563371

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25652410

SN - 1403-4948

VL - 43

SP - 309

EP - 314

JO - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

JF - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

IS - 3

ER -

Self-reported sexual and psychosocial health among non-heterosexual Danes

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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