Same-sex legal marriage and psychological well-being: Findings from the California health interview survey

R.G. Wight, A.J. LeBlanc and M.V. Lee Badgett

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 2, 339-346

Abstract: Objectives. We examined whether same-sex marriage was associated with nonspecific psychological distress among self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults, and whether it had the potential to offset mental health disparities between lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons and heterosexuals. Methods. Population-based data (weighted) were from the 2009 adult (aged 18-70 years) California Health Interview Survey. Within-group analysis of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons included 1166 individuals (weighted proportion = 3.15%); within-group heterosexual analysis included 35 608 individuals (weighted proportion = 96.58%); and pooled analysis of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons and heterosexuals included 36 774 individuals. Results. Same-sex married lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons were significantly less distressed than lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons not in a legally recognized relationship; married heterosexuals were significantly less distressed than nonmarried heterosexuals. In adjusted pairwise comparisons, married heterosexuals had the lowest psychological distress, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons who were not in legalized relationships had the highest psychological distress (P

Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; article; bisexuality; cross-sectional study; female; health disparity; health survey; heterosexuality; homosexuality; human; interview; legal aspect; lesbian; male; marriage; mental health; middle aged; psychological aspect; statistics; United States, Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bisexuality; California; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Status Disparities; Health Surveys; Heterosexuality; Homosexuality, Female; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Marriage; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301113_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301113

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