Health Disparities

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals make up a population that is heterogeneous and diverse in terms of a wide range of demographic factors including age, race, ethnicity, geographic location, socioeconomic status, gender expression, and gender identity. Despite these differences, LGBTQ individuals face some common problems, including both minority stress and psychosocial inequities that are unique to sexual and gender minorities. These problems are implicated in the health disparities experienced by these groups when compared with heterosexual and cisgender counterparts on both physical and mental health indicators. This entry will first outline some explanatory theories of health disparities including individual factors, psychosocial components, and other protective and risk factors. Next, mental and physical health research with LGBTQ populations will be reviewed, and issues ...