Dissertation
Risk Factors Associated with Healthcare Avoidance Among Sexual Minority Women
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2020
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/111191
Abstract
The percentage of Americans delaying needed medical care has risen in recent years. Healthcare avoidance can result in significant personal and societal burden, including overall poorer health outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, certain sub-populations may be at increased risk of avoiding needed medical care, including sexual minority women. Despite increased risk, little is known about specific correlates or predictors of healthcare avoidance among sexual minority women. Meyer's Minority Stress Model offers several possible explanations, including experienced stigma and increased rates of psychological distress/mental health disorders. Additionally, known correlates of healthcare avoidance among the general population have not yet been tested for their predictive power among sexual minority women, and thus offer additional possibilities for investigation.
The current study analyzed data from Wave IV of the Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) National Survey to investigate possible risk factors for healthcare avoidance among sexual minority women (n = 554) ages 24-32. Several possible risk factors were selected based on Meyer's Minority Stress Model (i.e., experienced stigma, current or historical mental health conditions) and from the set of risk factors known to predict healthcare avoidance among the general population (i.e., obesity, lack of health insurance, low income, low education level, and racial/ethnic minority status). Logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals for the associations between possible risk factors and healthcare avoidance, controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors.
Results found that current/historical mental health condition (OR = 3.2), "sometimes" or "often" experiencing stigma/discrimination (OR = 2.38 and 3.63, respectively), and lack of health insurance (OR = 2.14) were each associated with increased risk of healthcare avoidance among a sample of young adult women identifying as sexual minorities. Strengths, limitations, and future implications are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Risk Factors Associated with Healthcare Avoidance Among Sexual Minority Women
- Creators
- Emily Rose Faust
- Contributors
- Paul Kwon (Advisor)G. Leonard Burns (Committee Member)Bruce R. Wright (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 39
- Identifiers
- 99900581707401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation