Dating violence, quality of life and mental health in sexual minority populations: a path analysis

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 959 - 968
• Main Authors: Wong, Janet Yuen-Ha, Choi, Edmond Pui-Hang, Lo, Herman Hay-Ming, Wong, Wendy, Chio, Jasmine Hin-Man, Choi, Anna Wai-Man, Fong, Daniel Yee-Tak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer 01.04.2017; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; China; CLINICAL AND POLICY APPLICATIONS; College campuses; Cross-Sectional Studies; Domestic violence; Female; Gays & lesbians; Health disparities; Heterosexuality; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Investigations; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Mental depression; Mental health; Minority & ethnic groups; Models, Psychological; Population; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychometrics; Public Health; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Sexual Behavior; Sexual orientation; Society; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology; Studies; Young Adult; China; Dating violence; Sexual minority; Chinese; Mental health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-016-1415-2

Purpose Theories explaining the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health have focused on heterosexual relationships. It is unclear whether mental health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people are due to IPV or factors related to sexual orientation. The present study aimed to investigate pathways of how sexual orientation influenced quality of life and mental health. Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 1076 young adults in a university population (934 heterosexual and 142 sexual minority groups). Structural equation modelling was used to examine the pathways of sexual orientation, dating violence, sexual orientation concealment, quality of life and mental health (perceived stress, anxiety and depression). Results After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, quality of life in sexual minority people was poorer [estimate -2.82, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -4.77 to -0.86, p = 0.005], and stress (estimate 2.77, 95 % CI 1.64-3.92, p < 0.0001), anxiety (estimate 1.84, 95 % CI 1.13-2.56, p < 0.0001) and depression levels (estimate 0.62, 95 % CI 0.05-1.2, p < 0.0001) were higher than in heterosexual people. Dating violence and sexual orientation concealment were mediators, with the models showing a good fit. Conclusion Our study has progressed investigation of the link between sexual orientation and quality of life and mental health in the Chinese context. It has helped identify health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people and determined specific factors affecting their quality of life and mental health.