Mental Health Care Access and Utilization Across Sexual and Racial Identity

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12759228
AutoresDaniel Nguyen (0000-0001-9766-0192, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, autor de correspondencia), Raymond La (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Allyson M Blackburn (0000-0002-7678-4505, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Nathan R Todd (0000-0003-3287-6827, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
Año2025
Páginas1-28
Fecha de publicación2025-12-23
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Bisexuality (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1529-9716 • E-ISSN: 1529-9724
EditorialTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15299716.2025.2604486
OpenAlexW7116896745
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas82

Existing literature finds, compared to heterosexual and white people, respectively, sexual minorities (SMs) utilize mental health care more but have less access; and People of Color (POC; in our sample, people identifying as Black, Asian, or Latine) utilize less and have less access. Less is known about differences between gay/lesbian and bisexual people’s access and utilization; how these and other sexual identity differences may differ across race; and how racial differences may differ across sexual identity. Thus, we examine access (unmet needs) and utilization (counseling/therapy receipt) differences by sexual identity, racial identity, and their intersection, using the Household Pulse Survey, a population-based U.S. adult sample aged 18–65 ( n = 528,191). We hypothesized greater sexual/racial differences in unmet needs and utilization among SM POC (e.g., especially greater bisexual-heterosexual differences among Asian people). Aligning with current research, we found higher utilization and unmet needs among SMs, particularly bisexual people, and less utilization among POC. We found more complex racial differences in unmet needs than hypothesized; and despite some interactions, findings mostly lacked support for greater differences for SM POC. We discuss study limitations and implications for theory and research. This study examines the differences in mental health care utilization and unmet needs, based on sexual and racial identity and their intersection, using a large population-based sample of U.S. adults. Findings highlight the importance of viewing social identities in the context of one another when researching disparities

Health care · Identity (music · Mental health · Mental health care · Sexual identity · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Counseling Practices and Supervision · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Mental Health Treatment and Access