215231 Sexual orientation, discrimination, and prevalence of 12 month major depression

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Susan D. Cochran, PhD, MS , Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Vickie M. Mays, PhD, MSPH , Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Background: Minority sexual orientation is a risk indicator for depression (Cochran & Mays, 2009), presumably stemming from the harmful effects of antigay discrimination (Meyer, 2003; Mays & Cochran, 2001). Objectives: Here, we ask a somewhat different question: Does sexual orientation-related discrimination (SOD) show evidence of harming individuals irrespective of their sexual orientation? To do so, we use the combined 2004-2005/2007-2008 California Quality of Life Surveys, both of which reinterviewed respondents from the 2003/2007 CHIS's, to investigate associations between SOD and past year depression. Methods: The Cal-QOL surveys (N=5087) drew representative samples of former CHIS respondents, age 18 to 72 years, oversampled for minority sexual orientation. All were administered a structured interview assessing major depression and SOD. Using multivariate logistic regression methods, we investigated sexual orientation- and SOD-related differences in prevalence of depression. Results: LGB individuals were more likely to meet criteria for 12-month major depression than were heterosexuals (22% vs. 10%) after adjusting for demographic confounding. Also, LGB individuals were much more likely than heterosexuals to report SOD (21% vs. 1%). Further investigation revealed that LGB persons either reporting SOD or not and heterosexuals reporting SOD were significantly more likely to meet criteria for depression (20% vs. 22% vs. 23%) than heterosexuals who did not experience SOD (10 %). Conclusions: Experiencing frequent SOD is a risk factor for major depression, regardless of individual's sexual orientation. General public health interventions that target reductions in social discrimination may provide mental health benefits to an inclusive audience.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe sexual orientation related differences in prevalence of major depression and exposure to sexual orientation-related discrimination. 2. Identify the effects of sexual orientation-related discrimination on mental health.

Keywords: Depression, Gay

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the principal investigator for this NIDA funded study
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.