Lesbian disclosure and health care seeking in the United States: A replication study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: St. Pierre, Melissa
• Is Part Of: Journal of lesbian studies. Volume 22:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Lesbian -- disclosure -- health care seeking -- preventative health behaviors; Lesbianism -- Periodicals; Gay and lesbian studies -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.7663
• DOI: 10.1080/10894160.2017.1282283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1089-4160

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The current study explored factors associated with lesbian disclosure to health care providers (HCPs) and engagement in preventative health behaviors by replicating and extending a Canadian path analysis study with a sample of U.S. lesbians. Both patient (education, feminism, global outness, and internalized homophobia) and HCP-related (lesbian-friendly HCPs and patient comfort) factors were either directly or indirectly associated with disclosure and engagement in preventative health behaviors, including avoidance of health-compromising behaviors (e.g., smoking) and health care seeking. Importantly, findings suggest that HCPs—particularly those who are inclusive of lesbian patients—may play a role in assuaging their patients' experiences of minority stress. Overall, the findings were similar to those originally reported in the Canadian study, with the exception of internalized homophobia playing a more visible role in the current study.