Are you in, or are you out? Implications of inclusion criteria in sexual minority health disparities research

Citation

Soloski, K. L.; Minaiy, C.; Purcell, J. B. K.; Macey, P.; Smock Jordan, S.; Talley, A. E.; & Nedela, M. (2018). Are you in, or are you out? Implications of inclusion criteria in sexual minority health disparities research. Journal of Bisexuality. vol. 18 (3) pp. 353-381

Abstract

Those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are found to be at a heightened risk for problematic health outcomes, including substance use. Sexual minority identities are concealable, multidimensional, exist on a continuum, and develop fluidly. Together, these factors are important predictors of health outcomes, yet they have been neglected in the process of sample identification in health disparity research. Inclusion criteria employed when identifying samples affects research findings and potentially biases results when crucial factors are neglected. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult (Add Health), the authors identified four samples of sexual minorities (i.e., broad self-identified, broad multidimensional, narrow self-identified, and narrow multidimensional) based on the continuum of self-identification and multidimensional factors and examined a trajectory of binge drinking predicted by various relevant factors. When the authors defined the samples using different inclusion criteria and examined the results across these samples, differences in the results emerged and fell into four main patterns: (1) sex differences, (2) differences in the average frequency and rate of change in binge drinking, (3) differences in statistical significance, and (4) Implications. Inclusion criteria alone had a significant impact on the health implications for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in this study and thus should encourage cautious interpretation and application of research on sexual minority health by care professionals. The authors discuss research implications for these findings. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2018.1532373

Keyword(s)

adolescence

Notes

Export Date: 15 January 2019 Article in Press

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Bisexuality

Author(s)

Soloski, K. L.
Minaiy, C.
Purcell, J. B. K.
Macey, P.
Smock Jordan, S.
Talley, A. E.
Nedela, M.

Year Published

2018

Volume Number

18

Issue Number

3

Pages

353-381

Edition

December 27, 2018

ISSN/ISBN

15299716 (ISSN)

DOI

10.1080/15299716.2018.1532373

Reference ID

6655