Are “Gay” and “Queer-Friendly” Neighborhoods Healthy? Assessing How Areas with High Densities of Same-Sex Couples Impact the Mental Health of Sexual Minority and Majority Young Adults

Citation

Wienke, C.; Whaley, R. B.; & Braatz, R. (2021). Are “Gay” and “Queer-Friendly” Neighborhoods Healthy? Assessing How Areas with High Densities of Same-Sex Couples Impact the Mental Health of Sexual Minority and Majority Young Adults. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH.

Abstract

Neighborhoods with large concentrations of gay men, lesbians, and other sexual minorities have long served as places where sexual minority young adults find self-enhancing resources. Yet, it is unclear whether such neighborhood environments also confer health benefits. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we explored the relationship between the proportion of same-sex couples in neighborhoods and the mental health of sexual minority and majority young adults, controlling for other neighborhood- and individual-level factors. Results indicate that for sexual minorities, neighborhoods with higher percentages of same-sex couples are associated with lower levels of depression symptoms and higher levels of self-esteem. Conversely, for heterosexuals, there are no differences in health outcomes across neighborhood contexts. Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of striving for neighborhood-level understandings of sexual minority young adults and their mental health problems. © 2021, The Author(s).

URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66073-4_8

Keyword(s)

Gay neighborhoods

Notes

Export Date: 8 April 2021 Correspondence Address: Wienke, C.; Department of Sociology, United States; email: cwienke@siu.edu

Reference Type

Book

Book Title

Urban Book Series

Author(s)

Wienke, C.
Whaley, R. B.
Braatz, R.

Year Published

2021

Pages

181-200

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

ISSN/ISBN

2365757X (ISSN)

DOI

10.1007/978-3-030-66073-4_8

Reference ID

5834