Health behaviors may differ between lesbian and heterosexual women. These differences may be due to a specific social environment of the lesbian community that conditions health habits, and length of exposure to this environment may impart an increased or decreased likelihood of certain health behaviors. The purpose of this analysis was to examine health behaviors among self-identified lesbians, 40 years of age or older (n=472) from the Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in Lesbians (ESTHER), an anonymous community-based survey of the health status and health behaviors of 1158 women who partner with women in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. Three categories were constructed based on percent of adulthood identified as a lesbian: Late lesbians (LL, <=33% of adulthood), Middle Lesbians (ML, 34-66%), and Early Lesbians (EL, >=67%). The mean age self-identified was 41.3, 32.8, and 18.7 yrs for the LL, ML, and EL, respectively. LL and ML were more likely to report depression (46.5% vs. 36%), oral contraceptive use (52% vs. 25%), ever giving birth (47% vs. 14%), ever having sex with a man (88% vs. 69%), and had higher body mass indexes (29.7 vs. 27.6), compared to EL. Increasing percent of life as a lesbian was associated with increased rates of smoking (11%, 18%, 29%). ML and EL were more likely to be nonabstainers of alcohol (65% vs. 48%) and reported more average drinks per month (13.6 vs. 7.7), compared to LL. These data indicate that when women self-identify as a lesbian may impact their health status.
Learning Objectives: 1.Identify potential differences between lesbians based on the age at which they self-identified. 2. Recognize the need to quantify a woman's exposure to the lesbian community. 3. Discuss the potential health risk that may be associated with early versus late identification as a lesbian
Keywords: Lesbian Health, Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.