A Comparison of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual College Undergraduate Women on Selected Mental Health Issues
Abstract
Objective To investigate selected mental health characteristics of lesbians and bisexual undergraduate college women as compared with heterosexual college women. Participants Self-identified lesbians and bisexual and heterosexual female college students who took part in the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA-II) in Fall 2008, Spring 2009, and Fall 2009. Methods A secondary analysis of the ACHA-NCHA-II data set for 3 semesters was conducted. Comparisons of lesbians and bisexual and heterosexual female college students were made. Results Bisexual women reported the worst mental health status in all areas studied including anxiety, anger, depressive symptoms, self-injury, and suicidal ideation and attempts. Both bisexual women and lesbians had a far greater likelihood of having these mental health issues when compared with heterosexual women. Lesbians and bisexual women utilized significantly more mental health services (with the exception of clergy) than heterosexual women. Conclusions College health professionals should recognize and address the mental health needs of bisexual and lesbian undergraduate college women.
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The elevated odds of disorder among students with non-heterosexual orientations are consistent with previous studies of sexual orientation and mental health among college students.
“the elevated odds of disorder among students with non-heterosexual orientations are consistent with previous studies of the association between sexual orientation and mental health among college students (Kerr, Santurri, & Peters, 2013; Kisch, Leino, & Silverman, 2005; Oswalt & Wyatt, 2011; Przedworski et al., 2015).”
From WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project: Prevalence and distribution of mental disorders. (2018) · cites this paper as Kerr, Santurri, & Peters, 2013
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Understanding the costs and benefits of politics among adolescents within a sociocultural context
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- Authors
- Kerr, D. L., Santurri, L., & Peters, P.
- Affiliations
- Kent State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of American College Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-05
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 185-194
- ISSN
- 0164-4300 (ISSN-L)
- 0744-8481
- 1940-3208
- OpenAlex
- W1998396143
- Cited by
- 187
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 26.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of American College Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Sexuality, and Education
- Keywords
- lesbians, bisexual women, heterosexual women, female university students, mental health, anxiety, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, self-harm, anger, mental health service utilization, sexual orientation differences, campus health
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anger, Anxiety, Bisexuality, Depression, Female, Humans, Mental Health, Socioeconomic Factors, Students, Universities, Self-Injurious Behavior, Homosexuality, Female, Heterosexuality, Racial Groups, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation
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