Community connection is associated with lower psychological distress for sexual minority women who view community connection positively

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample characteristics (N = 2424).

	n	%
Sexual orientation
Lesbian/gay	1268	46.8
Bisexual	876	32.4
Pansexual	225	8.3
Queer	338	12.5
Age
18–24	940	34.7
25–34	779	28.8
35–44	477	17.6
45–54	285	10.5
55–64	161	5.9
65+	65	2.4
Education
Secondary or below	680	25.1
Non-university tertiary	548	20.2
University-undergraduate	780	28.8
University-postgraduate	699	25.8
Weekly income (pre-tax)
Nil income	172	6.4
$1–$399	678	25.3
$400–$599	317	11.8
$600–$999	391	14.6
$1000–$1999	850	31.7
$2000+	274	10.2
Country of birth
Australia born	2314	85.7
Other English-speaking country	286	10.6
Non-English-speaking country	100	3.7
Residential location
Capital city, inner suburban	1109	41.3
Capital city, outer suburban	772	28.8
Regional city or town	617	23
Rural/Remote	186	6.9
Feel a part of the LGBTIQ community
Yes	1,594	58.9
No	1,112	41.1
Feel that participation in the LGBTIQ community is a positive thing
Yes	1,851	68.6
No	848	31.4

Table 2. Factors associated with feeling connection to the LGBTQ community is positive (n = 2611).

			Adjusted multivariable
	n	%	OR(95% CI)	p
Sexual orientation
Lesbian/gay	874	69.0	REF	-
Bisexual	549	63.0	0.78 (0.63−0.95)	0.014
Pansexual	164	73.5	1.33 (0.94−1.87)	0.105
Queer	264	78.1	1.62 (1.20−2.18)	0.001
Age
18–24	651	69.7	REF	-
25–34	532	68.3	0.82 (0.63−1.07)	0.150
35–44	312	65.7	0.68 (0.50−0.93)	0.014
45–54	200	70.2	0.84 (0.59−1.19)	0.324
55–64	113	70.2	0.79 (0.52−1.22)	0.286
65+	43	66.2	0.75 (0.41−1.37)	0.352
Education
Secondary or below	478	70.8	REF	-
Non-university tertiary	332	60.7	0.66 (0.50−0.87)	0.003
University-undergraduate	551	70.8	0.97 (0.74−1.28)	0.854
University-postgraduate	490	70.1	0.85 (0.63−1.17)	0.322
Weekly income (pre-tax)
Nil income	120	70.6	REF	-
$1–$399	455	67.5	0.85 (0.58−1.24)	0.396
$400–$599	212	67.1	0.87 (0.56−1.33)	0.511
$600–$999	258	66.0	0.84 (0.55−1.28)	0.411
$1000–$1999	584	68.7	0.99 (0.66−1.49)	0.969
$2000+	204	74.7	1.33 (0.81−2.18)	0.259
Country of birth
Australia born	1576	68.3	REF	-
Other English-speaking country	196	69.0	1.05 (0.79−1.38)	0.743
Non-English-speaking country	74	74.7	1.30 (0.80−2.11)	0.288
Residential location
Capital city, inner suburban	809	73.1	REF	-
Capital city, outer suburban	477	62.0	0.66 (0.54−0.81)	0.000
Regional city or town	426	69.3	0.89 (0.70−1.12)	0.307
Rural/Remote	121	65.1	0.77 (0.55−1.09)	0.138
Treated unfairly based on sexual orientation
No	646	62.8	REF	-
Yes	1177	72.3	1.51 (1.27−1.80)	0.000

Note: Frequencies and percentages refer to the number of participants in each category who felt a part of the LGBTQ community.

Table 3. Factors associated with feeling a part of the LGBTQ community among those who felt that connection was a positive thing for them (n = 1789).

			Adjusted multivariable
	n	%	OR(95% CI)	p
Sexual orientation
Lesbian/gay	707	80.9	REF	-
Bisexual	384	69.9	0.57 (0.43−0.76)	0.000
Pansexual	115	70.1	0.68 (0.45−1.02)	0.065
Queer	216	81.8	1.16 (0.80−1.69)	0.426
Age
18–24	496	76.2	REF	-
25–34	386	72.6	0.60 (0.42−0.86)	0.005
35–44	244	78.2	0.72 (0.46−1.12)	0.143
45–54	160	80.0	0.78 (0.48−1.27)	0.310
55–64	99	87.6	1.42 (0.70−2.86)	0.334
65+	37	86.0	1.00 (0.37−2.71)	0.997
Education
Secondary or below	363	75.9	REF	-
Non-university tertiary	237	71.4	0.89 (0.62−1.29)	0.552
University-undergraduate	410	74.4	0.98 (0.68−1.41)	0.892
University-postgraduate	412	84.1	1.49 (0.97−2.29)	0.072
Weekly income (pre-tax)
Nil income	95	79.2	REF	-
$1–$399	339	74.5	0.75 (0.46−1.23)	0.256
$400–$599	159	75.0	0.75 (0.43−1.34)	0.333
$600–$999	185	71.7	0.67 (0.38−1.16)	0.148
$1000–$1999	452	77.4	0.82 (0.48−1.43)	0.490
$2000+	175	85.8	1.04 (0.53−2.06)	0.899
Country of birth
Australia born	1212	76.9	REF	-
Other English-speaking country	149	76.0	0.80 (0.55−1.15)	0.226
Non-English-speaking country	57	77.0	0.80 (0.45−1.43)	0.456
Residential location
Capital city, inner suburban	653	80.7	REF	-
Capital city, outer suburban	354	74.2	0.75 (0.56−1.00)	0.049
Regional city or town	304	71.4	0.66 (0.49−0.89)	0.006
Rural/Remote	96	79.3	0.88 (0.53−1.45)	0.618
Treated unfairly based on sexual orientation
No	478	74.0	REF	-
Yes	923	78.4	1.27 (1.00−1.61)	0.046

Note: Frequencies and percentages refer to the number of participants in each category who felt a part of the LGBTQ community.

Table 4. Relationship between feeling a part of the community and psychological distress among those who did and did not feel that community connection was a positive thing for them (n = 1789).

	Participants who felt that community connection was a positive thing for them				Participants who did not feel that community connection was a positive thing for them
			Adjusted multivariable				Adjusted multivariable
	n	%	OR (95% CI)	p	n	%	OR (95% CI)	p
Feel a part of the LGBTQ community
No	602	65.2	REF	–	1213	60.6	REF	–
Yes	1662	52.2	0.75 (0.58−0.97)	0.027	325	59.7	0.84 (0.56−1.25)	0.383

Note: Frequencies and percentages refer to the number of participants in each category who reported high or very high psychological distress among participants who felt that community connection was a positive thing for them and among those who do not feel it was a positive thing for them.