Correlates of Wellbeing Among African American Lesbians

Abstract

Although there is a growing body of knowledge about health among African American women in general, there is a dearth of information on African American lesbians. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the correlates of health-related quality of life among African American lesbians using a cross-sectional anonymous survey with topics and measures developed by members of the African American lesbian community. Surveys were completed by 123 English speaking adult women who identified as African American lesbians and were attending the Zuna Institute's National Black Lesbian Conference. Overall, we found a very high health-related quality of life, in spite of a high frequency of health impairments. The average body mass index (BMI) for this sample was 32.2 (SD = 8.0); 13% were morbidly obese, having a BMI of 40 or more and only 15% of the women were in a healthy weight range; advancing age was associated with poorer physical functioning, decreased physical role functioning, and more pain. Health-related quality of life was associated with depression and spirituality, but not religion. This study highlights the need for subjective measures of health-related quality of life as well as checklists of diseases and disorders.

Keywords:

• African American
• lesbian
• sexual minority
• health
• illness

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants who took time to complete the surveys; research associates Mary Anne Adams, Executive Director of Zami in Atlanta, GA; Francine Ramsey, Zuna Institute in Sacramento, CA; Dorethea Williams-Flournoy, Executive Director, Lyon Martin Women Health Services, San Francisco, CA; statistician Bruce Cooper, PhD; doctoral student, Diane Norcio, RN, PhD, GNP; and our funders, The California Endowment, Progressive Research & Training for Action, and the Lesbian Health Research Center at UCSF.

Support for this study was received from the California Endowment, Progressive Research and Training for Action, & the Lesbian Health Research Center @ UCSF.