Lesbian disclosure and health care seeking in the United States: A replication study

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Lesbian
• disclosure
• health care seeking
• preventative health behaviors

Funding

This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Lesbian Health Fund of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

Notes on contributor

Dr. Melissa St. Pierre is a Research Associate at the World Health Innovation Network, Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. This research was completed as part of the program requirements for a PhD in Applied Social Psychology at the University of Windsor.