An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress
Abstract Background Previous studies report vast mental health problems in sexual minority people. Representative national proportion estimates on self-identifying LGB+ persons are missing in Belgium. Lacking data collection regarding sexual orientation in either census or governmental survey data l...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14198-2 |
| _version_ | 1811208659156336640 |
|---|---|
| author | Lotte De Schrijver Elizaveta Fomenko Barbara Krahé Alexis Dewaele Jonathan Harb Erick Janssen Joz Motmans Kristien Roelens Tom Vander Beken Ines Keygnaert |
| author_facet | Lotte De Schrijver Elizaveta Fomenko Barbara Krahé Alexis Dewaele Jonathan Harb Erick Janssen Joz Motmans Kristien Roelens Tom Vander Beken Ines Keygnaert |
| author_sort | Lotte De Schrijver |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies report vast mental health problems in sexual minority people. Representative national proportion estimates on self-identifying LGB+ persons are missing in Belgium. Lacking data collection regarding sexual orientation in either census or governmental survey data limits our understanding of the true population sizes of different sexual orientation groups and their respective health outcomes. This study assessed the proportion of LGB+ and heterosexual persons in Belgium, LGB+ persons’ self-identification as sexual minority, mental health, and experienced minority stress. Method A representative sample of 4632 individuals drawn from the Belgian National Register completed measures of sexual orientation, subjective minority status, and its importance for their identity as well as a range of mental-health measures. Results LGB+ participants made up 10.02% of the total sample and 52.59% of LGB+ participants self-identified as sexual minority. Most sexual minority participants considered sexual minority characteristics important for their identity. LGB+ persons reported significantly worse mental health than heterosexual persons. Sexual minority participants did not report high levels of minority stress, but those who considered minority characteristics key for their identity reported higher levels of minority stress. LGB+ participants who did not identify as minority reported fewer persons they trust. Conclusions The proportion of persons who identified as LGB+ was twice as large as the proportion of persons who identified as a minority based on their sexual orientation. LGB+ persons show poorer mental health compared to heterosexual persons. This difference was unrelated to minority stress, sociodemographic differences, minority identification, or the importance attached to minority characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:25:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1727cb81085d457fbe06787e42cd6352 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:25:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1727cb81085d457fbe06787e42cd63522022-12-22T03:48:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-09-0122111310.1186/s12889-022-14198-2An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stressLotte De Schrijver0Elizaveta Fomenko1Barbara Krahé2Alexis Dewaele3Jonathan Harb4Erick Janssen5Joz Motmans6Kristien Roelens7Tom Vander Beken8Ines Keygnaert9International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, BelgiumInternational Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, BelgiumDepartment of Psychology, University of PotsdamDepartment of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent UniversityInternational Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, BelgiumInstitute for Family and Sexuality Studies, University of LeuvenTransgender Infopunt, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University Hospital – Ghent UniversityInstitute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent UniversityInternational Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, BelgiumAbstract Background Previous studies report vast mental health problems in sexual minority people. Representative national proportion estimates on self-identifying LGB+ persons are missing in Belgium. Lacking data collection regarding sexual orientation in either census or governmental survey data limits our understanding of the true population sizes of different sexual orientation groups and their respective health outcomes. This study assessed the proportion of LGB+ and heterosexual persons in Belgium, LGB+ persons’ self-identification as sexual minority, mental health, and experienced minority stress. Method A representative sample of 4632 individuals drawn from the Belgian National Register completed measures of sexual orientation, subjective minority status, and its importance for their identity as well as a range of mental-health measures. Results LGB+ participants made up 10.02% of the total sample and 52.59% of LGB+ participants self-identified as sexual minority. Most sexual minority participants considered sexual minority characteristics important for their identity. LGB+ persons reported significantly worse mental health than heterosexual persons. Sexual minority participants did not report high levels of minority stress, but those who considered minority characteristics key for their identity reported higher levels of minority stress. LGB+ participants who did not identify as minority reported fewer persons they trust. Conclusions The proportion of persons who identified as LGB+ was twice as large as the proportion of persons who identified as a minority based on their sexual orientation. LGB+ persons show poorer mental health compared to heterosexual persons. This difference was unrelated to minority stress, sociodemographic differences, minority identification, or the importance attached to minority characteristics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14198-2LGBTSexual orientationMental healthMinority healthPublic healthWe have no conflict of interest to disclose. |
| spellingShingle | Lotte De Schrijver Elizaveta Fomenko Barbara Krahé Alexis Dewaele Jonathan Harb Erick Janssen Joz Motmans Kristien Roelens Tom Vander Beken Ines Keygnaert An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress BMC Public Health LGBT Sexual orientation Mental health Minority health Public health We have no conflict of interest to disclose. |
| title | An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress |
| title_full | An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress |
| title_fullStr | An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress |
| title_short | An assessment of the proportion of LGB+ persons in the Belgian population, their identification as sexual minority, mental health and experienced minority stress |
| title_sort | assessment of the proportion of lgb persons in the belgian population their identification as sexual minority mental health and experienced minority stress |
| topic | LGBT Sexual orientation Mental health Minority health Public health We have no conflict of interest to disclose. |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14198-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lottedeschrijver anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT elizavetafomenko anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT barbarakrahe anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT alexisdewaele anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT jonathanharb anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT erickjanssen anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT jozmotmans anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT kristienroelens anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT tomvanderbeken anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT ineskeygnaert anassessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT lottedeschrijver assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT elizavetafomenko assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT barbarakrahe assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT alexisdewaele assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT jonathanharb assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT erickjanssen assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT jozmotmans assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT kristienroelens assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT tomvanderbeken assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress AT ineskeygnaert assessmentoftheproportionoflgbpersonsinthebelgianpopulationtheiridentificationassexualminoritymentalhealthandexperiencedminoritystress |