Dissertation
LGB identity and minority stress: impact on chronic disease and health conditions related to inflammation
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Dec 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001459
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that chronic disease related to inflammation prevalence is higher among sexual minority populations. The reasons and mechanisms that cause the health disparity of chronic diseases related to inflammation among sexual minority individuals remain unclear. Minority stress theory is the mainstream hypothesis that explains the association between sexual minorities and health disparity in chronic diseases, which implies chronic stress could induce inflammation as the biological pathway. In addition, chronic diseases and conditions could be exacerbated by inflammation and induced pain. Previous research indicated that some sexual minority groups, such as incompletely heterosexuals and unsure about their sexual identity individuals, are exposed to higher levels of minority stressors as discrimination is understudied. This dissertation conducted three aims to investigate the minority stress impacts on chronic diseases and health conditions related to inflammation among sexual minority individuals. In Aim 1, we assessed the relationship between sexual orientation and chronic diseases related to inflammation and whether the intersections of gender and race/ethnicity affects this relationship. In Aim 2, we evaluated the association between sexual minority discrimination with chronic diseases related to inflammation and the modifications by gender, race/ethnicity, and age. In Aim 3, we examined the mediation effects of sexual discrimination and mood/anxiety for the association between sexual orientation with chronic diseases related to inflammation. In this dissertation, studies have been conducted on a nationally representative non-institutionalized U.S. population cross-sectional dataset. Multiple logistic regression, stratified analysis, intersectionality analysis, latent class analysis, and counterfactual mediation analysis was utilized in the studies.
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Details
- Title
- LGB identity and minority stress
- Creators
- Anqi Wang
- Contributors
- Seth Welles (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xiii, 126 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991020041414904721