Sexual orientation and poor psychological health: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to analyse associations between sexual orientation and poor psychological health.

STUDY

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The 2012 public health survey in Scania, Southern Sweden, is a cross-sectional population-based study with 28,029 participants aged 18-80 years. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of poor psychological health (measured using the General Health Questionnaire [GHQ]-12) was 16.3% among men and 22.4% among women. Bisexual men and women had significantly higher odds ratios of poor psychological health throughout the multiple analyses than heterosexual individuals. In contrast, the odds ratios of poor psychological health among gay men and lesbian women were not significantly higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Respondents with bisexual orientation have increased risk of poor psychological health.