Disparities in self-reported health measures amongst sexual minority compared to sexual majority university students

Hardwicke, Jack and Roberts, Charlie J. (2024) Disparities in self-reported health measures amongst sexual minority compared to sexual majority university students. Research in Post-Compulsory Education. ISSN 1359-6748 (In Press)

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Abstract

University students often experience significant changes to their environment and lifestyles which can present unique risk factors for health and wellbeing. This may particularly be the case for sexual minority students, given they are a group that suffer health disparities within the general population. Therefore, we sought to compare sexual minority university students self-reported health and health-related behaviours against sexual majorities within one university in the United Kingdom. Findings come from 566 students, of which 84% identified as sexual majorities and 16% as sexual minorities, that completed a cross-sectional online survey covering a range of health and wellbeing related questions. Analysis showed that sexual minority students had lower self-rated physical and mental health, greater nicotine intake, were more likely to report barriers to physical activity and healthy eating, were less confident in meeting physical activity guidelines, were more likely to report difficulty in motivation to eat healthily, and reported lower levels in feelings of belonging and social connection compared to sexual majority students. Based on these findings, it is suggested that sexual minority university students experience health disparities within higher education and that this warrants attention from relevant stakeholders concerned with health promotion and student welfare.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 19 December 2024 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	LGB, sexual minorities, public health, university students
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Life Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2025 16:16
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2025 16:16
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16144