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Psychiatric morbidity associated with same-sex sexual behaviour: influence of minority stress and familial factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

T. Frisell ,
P. Lichtenstein ,
Q. Rahman  and
N. Långström
T. Frisell
Affiliation:
Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
P. Lichtenstein
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Q. Rahman
Affiliation:
Biological and Experimental Psychology Group, School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, UK King's College, University of London, UK
N. Långström*
Affiliation:
Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr N. Långström, Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, PO Box 23000, 104 35 Stockholm, Sweden. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Increased psychiatric morbidity has been widely reported among non-heterosexual individuals (defined as reporting a homosexual/bisexual identity and/or same-sex sexual partners). However, the causes of this psychiatric ill-health are mostly unknown.

Method

We attempted to estimate the influence of minority stress and familial factors on psychiatric disorder among adults with same-sex sexual partners. Self-report data from a 2005 survey of adults (age 20–47 years, n=17 379) in the population-based Swedish Twin Registry were analysed with regression modelling and co-twin control methodology.

Results

Rates of depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), eating disorders, alcohol dependence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were increased among men and women with same-sex sexual experiences. Adjusting for perceived discrimination and hate crime victimization lowered this risk whereas controlling for familial (genetic or environmental) factors in within-twin pair comparisons further reduced or eliminated it.

Conclusions

Components of minority stress influence the risk of psychiatric ill-health among individuals with any same-sex sexual partner. However, substantial confounding by familial factors suggests a common genetic and/or environmental liability for same-sex sexual behaviour and psychiatric morbidity.

Keywords

Environmentgeneticsminority stresspsychiatric symptomssexual behaviour
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , February 2010 , pp. 315 - 324
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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