Self-Reported Health and Patterns of Romantic Love in Adolescents from Eight European Countries and Regions

Kolto, Andras; Cosma, Alina; Moreau, Nathalie; Young, Honor; Thorsteinsson, Einar B; Gobina, Inese; Godeau, Emmanuelle; Saewyc, Elizabeth M; Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse

doi:10.1089/lgbt.2019.0107

Author(s)

Kolto, Andras

Cosma, Alina

Moreau, Nathalie

Young, Honor

Thorsteinsson, Einar B

Gobina, Inese

Godeau, Emmanuelle

Saewyc, Elizabeth M

Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse

Publication Date

2020-02-24

Abstract

Purpose: Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk of poor health, but it remains unclear whether this phenomenon is universal. In this study, nationally representative samples of 15-year olds from eight European countries and regions were investigated to test if adolescents who have been in love with same- or both-gender partners report poorer health than those exclusively in love with opposite-gender partners or who have never been in love. Methods: A subsample of 13,674 adolescents participating in the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study was used. We conducted binary logistic regression, adjusted for gender, region, and relative family affluence, to analyze associations between self-reported romantic love, multiple psychosomatic symptoms, and poor self-rated health. Results: Adolescents reporting same-gender love (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–2.02) and both-gender love (aOR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.65–4.83) had significantly higher odds for multiple psychosomatic symptoms than those who reported opposite-gender love. Similarly, both SMY groups had higher odds of poor self-rated health (aOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.64–5.31 and aOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.79–5.31, respectively). Those who reported that they have never been in love had significantly lower odds for multiple symptoms. Adjustment for sociodemographic variables and stratifying by gender did not substantially change the odds ratios. Conclusion: Adolescents in love with same- and both-gender partners reported poorer subjective health outcomes than those in love with opposite-gender partners or who reported never being in love, suggesting that SMY health inequalities are found across various European countries and regions.

Citation

LGBT Health, 7(2), p. 90-100

ISSN

2325-8306

2325-8292

Pubmed ID

32053046

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28567

Language

en

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Publishers

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Title

Self-Reported Health and Patterns of Romantic Love in Adolescents from Eight European Countries and Regions

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Kolto, Andras Cosma, Alina Moreau, Nathalie Young, Honor Thorsteinsson, Einar B Gobina, Inese Godeau, Emmanuelle Saewyc, Elizabeth M Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
Publication Date	2020-02-24
Abstract	Purpose: Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk of poor health, but it remains unclear whether this phenomenon is universal. In this study, nationally representative samples of 15-year olds from eight European countries and regions were investigated to test if adolescents who have been in love with same- or both-gender partners report poorer health than those exclusively in love with opposite-gender partners or who have never been in love. Methods: A subsample of 13,674 adolescents participating in the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study was used. We conducted binary logistic regression, adjusted for gender, region, and relative family affluence, to analyze associations between self-reported romantic love, multiple psychosomatic symptoms, and poor self-rated health. Results: Adolescents reporting same-gender love (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–2.02) and both-gender love (aOR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.65–4.83) had significantly higher odds for multiple psychosomatic symptoms than those who reported opposite-gender love. Similarly, both SMY groups had higher odds of poor self-rated health (aOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.64–5.31 and aOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.79–5.31, respectively). Those who reported that they have never been in love had significantly lower odds for multiple symptoms. Adjustment for sociodemographic variables and stratifying by gender did not substantially change the odds ratios. Conclusion: Adolescents in love with same- and both-gender partners reported poorer subjective health outcomes than those in love with opposite-gender partners or who reported never being in love, suggesting that SMY health inequalities are found across various European countries and regions.
Citation	LGBT Health, 7(2), p. 90-100
ISSN	2325-8306 2325-8292
Pubmed ID	32053046
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28567
Language	en
Publisher	Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Publishers
Rights	Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Title	Self-Reported Health and Patterns of Romantic Love in Adolescents from Eight European Countries and Regions
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Self-Reported Health and Patterns of Romantic Love in Adolescents from Eight European Countries and Regions

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