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Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT: Very little is known about how the differential treatment of sexual minorities could influence subjective reports of overall well-being. This paper seeks to fill this gap. Data from two large surveys that provide nationally representative samples for two different countries -Australia and the UK - are used to estimate a simultaneous equations model of life satisfaction. The model allows for self-reported sexual identity to influence a measure of life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through seven different channels: (i) income; (ii) employment; (iii) health (iv) marriage and de facto relationships; (v) children; (vi) friendship networks; and (vii) education. Lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are found to be significantly less satisfied with their lives than otherwise comparable heterosexual persons. In both countries this is the result of a combination of direct and indirect effects.

SUBMITTER: Powdthavee N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724784 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom.

Powdthavee Nattavudh N Wooden Mark M

Journal of economic behavior & organization 20150429

Very little is known about how the differential treatment of sexual minorities could influence subjective reports of overall well-being. This paper seeks to fill this gap. Data from two large surveys that provide nationally representative samples for two different countries -Australia and the UK - are used to estimate a simultaneous equations model of life satisfaction. The model allows for self-reported sexual identity to influence a measure of life satisfaction both directly and indirectly thr ...[more]

PMID: 29238117

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Racism has been linked with poor health in studies in the United States. Little is known about prospective associations between racial discrimination and health outcomes in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS:Data were from 4883 ethnic minority (i.e. non-white) participants in the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Perceived discrimination in the last 12?months on the basis of ethnicity or nationality was reported in 2009/10. Psychological distress, mental functioning, life satisfaction, self-rated health, physical functioning and reports of limiting longstanding illness were assessed in 2009/10 and 2011/12. Linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, income, education and ethnicity. Prospective analyses also adjusted for baseline status on the outcome being evaluated. RESULTS:Racial discrimination was reported by 998 (20.4%) of the sample. Cross-sectionally, those who reported racial discrimination had a greater likelihood on average of limiting longstanding illness (odds ratio (OR)?=?1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49; 2.13) and fair/poor self-rated health (OR?=?1.50; 95% CI 1.24; 1.82) than those who did not report racial discrimination. Racial discrimination was associated with greater psychological distress (B?=?1.11, 95% CI 0.88; 1.34), poorer mental functioning (B?=?-?3.61; 95% CI -4.29; -?2.93), poorer physical functioning (B?=?-?0.86; 95% CI -1.50; -?0.27), and lower life satisfaction (B?=?-?0.40, 95% CI -0.52; -?0.27). Prospectively, those who reported racial discrimination had a greater likelihood on average of limiting longstanding illness (OR?=?1.31, 95% CI 1.01; 1.69) and fair/poor self-rated health (OR?=?1.30; 95% CI 1.00; 1.69), than those who did not report racial discrimination. Racial discrimination was associated increased psychological distress (B?=?0.52, 95% CI 0.20; 0.85) and poorer mental functioning (B?=?-?1.77; 95% CI -2.70; -?0.83) over two-year follow-up, adjusting for baseline scores. CONCLUSIONS:UK adults belonging to ethnic minority groups who perceive racial discrimination experience poorer mental and physical health than those who do not. These results highlight the need for effective interventions to combat racial discrimination in order to reduce inequalities in health.

Dataset Information

Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom.

Publications

Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom.

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