A Pilot Study of Latinx Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescent Patients’ Goal Prioritizations in Patient-Provider Sexual Orientation and Health Disclosures

ABSTRACT

This pilot study provides a theoretically-driven explanation of the dilemmas young Latinx LGB patients may experience surrounding disclosure of personal sexual orientation and sexual health information to a health care provider (HCP). The research team conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with LGB Latinx individuals (N= 29) ages 18–22 about their experiences, concerns, and preferences regarding divulging this type of information to an HCP. Interviews were thematically analyzed to identify (a) participants’ instrumental, identity, and relational goals during the potential and real disclosures and (b) patterns of how the participants prioritized their goals. Thematic analysis revealed four distinct goal prioritization patterns detailed in this study. Participants’ goals were shaped by (a) cultural upbringing, (b) beliefs about human sexuality, (c) perception of data leakage risk, (d) individual personality, (e) medical situation, and (f) the geographic location of clinic.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Erin E. Donovan, Ph.D., for her guidance. They also thank McKenzie N. Castro, Carmen A. Gatrelle, and Lydia A. Medhanie for their assistance with coding. They thank Miguel Robles Marquez for his interviewing and recruiting assistance.

Notes

1. Disclosing SH information as it relates to behavior may or may not disclose LGB identity to a HCP. For example, disclosing frequency of sex or number of sexual partners is not related to identity. However, discussing contraception or what type of sex the patient engages in may reveal a non-heteronormative sexual orientation or a non-cis gender identity.

2. as it relates to race and sexual orientation

3. While our study focuses on LGB individuals, we use the term “queer” here as an umbrella term for LGBTQAI+ identities included in the previous studies we reference.

4. While gender is also an important variable in SO/SH disclosures, this study concerns itself with race/ethnicity and sexual orientation.

5. Misogyny – the dislike of, contempt for, and ingrained prejudice against women – applies broadly to all expressions of femininity.

6. Here we note that this participant has internalized harmful stereotypes of the gay community while being gay himself. “Being in the gay community” is related to identity, not behavior. It is not a risk. Having unprotected sex is a risk related to behavior. Many individuals engage in unprotected sex, regardless of sexual orientation.

Additional information

Funding

Data collection and analyses were supported by a grant from the Center for Health Communication’s Health Scholars Program at the University of Texas at Austin. Portions of this material were presented at the 2018 Western States Communication Association annual meeting, San Jose, CA, United States and at the 2019 Health Communication: Barriers, Breakthroughs and Best Practices annual online conference, Urbana, Illinois, United States.