Correlates of Wellbeing Among African American Lesbians

Although there is a growing body of knowledge about health among African American women in general, there is a dearth of information on African American lesbians. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the correlates of health-related quality of life among African American lesbians using a cross-sectional anonymous survey with topics and measures developed by members of the African American lesbian community. Surveys were completed by 123 English speaking adult women who identified as African American lesbians and were attending the Zuna Institute's National Black Lesbian Conference. Overall, we found a very high health-related quality of life, in spite of a high frequency of health impairments. The average body mass index (BMI) for this sample was 32.2 (SD = 8.0); 13% were morbidly obese, having a BMI of 40 or more and only 15% of the women were in a healthy weight range; advancing age was associated with poorer physical functioning, decreased physical role functioning, and more pain. Health-related quality of life was associated with depression and spirituality, but not religion. This study highlights the need for subjective measures of health-related quality of life as well as checklists of diseases and disorders

African american · Alternative medicine · Body mass index · Depression (economics · Health equity · Lesbian · Public health · Quality of life (healthcare · Sexual minority · Spirituality · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Gerontology

• Exploring pathways to successful aging among older black lesbians and sexual minority women

  Porsha Hall, Barbara C Wallace et al.•Journal of Women & Aging•2024

  Incluir item

• Reducing obesity among lesbian women

  Tyler B Mason, Robin J Lewis•Psychology of Sexual Orientation…•2014

  Incluir item

• Bisexual well-being

  Philip J Cooke, Timothy P Melchert•Psychology of Sexual Orientation…•2019

  Incluir item

• The Impact of Community Involvement, Religion, and Spirituality on Happiness and Health among a National Sample of Black Lesbians

  Juan Battle, Alfred DeFreece•Women Gender and Families of Color•2014

  Incluir item

• Intersectional health disparities

  Abby K Johnson Holm, Ashlie Johnson et al.•Psychology and Sexuality•2021

  Incluir item

• Exploring Discrimination and Mental Health Disparities Faced By Black Sexual Minority Women Using a Minority Stress Framework

  Open Access•Sarah K Calabrese, Ilan H Meyer et al.•Psychology of Women Quarterly•2014

  Incluir item

• Healthcare experiences of a Black lesbian in the United States

  Open Access•Ofa L Ejaife, Ivy K Ho•Journal of Health Psychology•2019

  Incluir item

• Spirituality and Religious Engagement, Community Involvement, Outness, and Family Support

  Greta L Stuhlsatz, Shane A Kavanaugh et al.•Journal of Homosexuality•2021

  Incluir item

• Well-Being in Older Gays and Lesbians

  Open Access•Omer Sagie•Social Indicators Research•2016

  Incluir item

• Predictors of Well-being Among Older Gays and Lesbians

  Open Access•Omer Sagie•Social Indicators Research•2015

  Incluir item

• Religious involvement, social support, and health among African-American women on the east side of detroit

  Julian Olphen, Amy J Schulz et al.•Journal of General Internal…•2003

  Incluir item

• Screening for Depression in Primary Care Clinics

  Open Access•Jane Zich, Jane M Zich et al.•The International Journal of…•1990

  Incluir item

• Brief Communication.

  Open Access•Aartjan T F Beekman, Dorly Deeg et al.•Psychological Medicine•1997

  Incluir item

• Sexual Dysfunction in the United States

  Edward O Laumann, A Paik et al.•JAMA•1999

  Incluir item

• Assessing Depressive Symptoms in Five Psychiatric Populations

  Myrna M Weissman, Diane Sholomskas et al.•American Journal of Epidemiology•1977

  Incluir item

• The impact of minority stress on mental health and substance use among sexual minority women.

  Keren Lehavot, Jane M Simoni•Journal of Consulting and…•2011

  Incluir item

• The CES-D Scale

  Open Access•Lenore Sawyer Radloff•Applied Psychological Measurement•1977

  Incluir item

• The MOS 36-ltem Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)

  John E Ware, Cathy Donald Sherbourne•Medical Care•1992

  Incluir item

• Cardiovascular disease risk in lesbian women

  Open Access•Stephanie Roberts, Stephanie A Roberts et al.•Women s Health Issues•2003

  Incluir item

• Assessing social networks among elderly populations

  James E Lubben•Family & Community Health•1988

  Incluir item

• Mental health service use by African American women

  Alicia K Matthews, Tonda L Hughes•Cultural Diversity & Ethnic…•2001

  Incluir item

• Brief Report

  Bianca D M Wilson, Chiamaka Okwu et al.•Journal of Lesbian Studies•2011

  Incluir item

• Social Support, Life Events, and Depression

  B Wellman, Nan Lin et al.•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1988

  Incluir item

• Heterogeneity of Health Disparities Among African American, Hispanic, and Asian American Women

  Vickie M Mays, Antronette K Yancey et al.•American Journal of Public Health•2002

  Incluir item

• The prevalence of homosexual behavior and attraction in the United States, the United Kingdom and France

  Open Access•Randall L Sell, James A Wells et al.•Archives of Sexual Behavior•1995

  Incluir item

• Triple Jeopardy and Beyond

  Lisa Bowleg, Jennifer Huang et al.•Journal of Lesbian Studies•2003

  Incluir item

• Social and psychological well-being in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals

  Robert M Kertzner, Ilan H Meyer et al.•American Journal of Orthopsychiatry•2009

  Incluir item

• When Lesbians Aren't Gay

  Helen Oetjen, Esther D Rothblum•Journal of Homosexuality•2000

  Incluir item

• The Impact of Perceived Discriminitation on the Intimate Relationships of Black Lesbians

  Vickie M Mays, Susan D Cochran et al.•Journal of Homosexuality•1993

  Incluir item

• An Empirical Analysis of Stressors for Gay Men and Lesbians

  Robin J Lewis, Valerian J Derlega et al.•Journal of Homosexuality•2002

  Incluir item

• African American Families in Diversity

  Vickie M Mays, Linda M Cha Tiers et al.•Journal of Comparative Family…•1998

  Incluir item