Publications by authors named "Kristen Gustafson"

To determine the levels and differentials in health care stereotype threat experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic by individuals with sexual or gender minority identities. The National Couples' Health and Time Use Study is a national cross-sectional US population‒ based sample of partnered individuals interviewed during the pandemic between September 2020 and April 2021 with oversamples of sexual and gender minority individuals. The analytic sample consisted of 3614 individuals (n = 2043 heterosexual and n = 1571 sexual minority individuals along with 3489 cisgender and 125 noncisgender people).

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People with sexual minority (SM) identities are less likely to aspire to be parents than their heterosexual counterparts. This differential may be due to concerns by SM people about their child(ren) encountering prejudice or discrimination. The objective of this study is to empirically examine whether SM respondents' rationales for not having children are due to concerns that their child(ren) will be treated unfairly.

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This study examined differences in alcohol use by sexual and gender identities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and assessed whether variation between groups was explained by pandemic-related stressors and minority stress. Data from 2,429 partnered adults in the National Couples' Health and Time Use Study (n = 3,593) collected from September 2020 to April 2021 were used to model drinking patterns (frequency, amount, and drinking to cope) by sexual and gender identities, COVID-19 stress and disruption, microaggressions, and supportive climate. Regression models indicated differences in drinking by gender and sexual identities, even controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

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Article Synopsis
  • Emotional support from family and friends is crucial for health outcomes, particularly in marginalized communities, and its significance increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A study using data from the National Couples' Health and Time Study (NCHAT) found that exclusively heterosexual individuals primarily sought emotional support from family, while sexual minority individuals turned to friends for support.
  • Factors such as openness about sexual identity, the importance of that identity, experienced aggressions, and relationship satisfaction were linked to the levels of emotional support received from both family and friends among diverse sexual populations.
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