Sexual and Gender Minorities and Risk Behaviours among University Students in Italy.

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.

Published: November 2021

Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) may experience stigma, discrimination and show higher prevalence of behavioural risk factors than heterosexual counterparts. In Italy, the information on SGM is scarce and outdated. The present cross-sectional study aims to provide a more up-to-date estimate of the SGM proportion in young adults and to assess differences in the adoption of risk behaviours compared to their heterosexual counterparts. The study involved university students aged 18-25. Information on socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics were collected. The effect of sexual orientation on risk behaviours was assessed with a multinomial single-step logistic regression analysis. A total of 9988 participants were included. Overall, 518 students (5.2%) self-identified as SGM. While lesbians showed significantly higher odds of only non-regular use of protective barriers (AOR: 11.16), bisexuals showed higher odds for frequent drinking (AOR: 2.67), smoking (AOR: 1.85), multiple sexual partnerships (AOR: 1.78) and non-regular use of protective barriers (AOR: 1.90) compared with heterosexual women. Gay men showed higher odds of multiple sexual partnerships compared with heterosexual males (AOR: 5.52). SGM accounted for 5.2% of the sample, slightly more than the proportion found in the general population, but substantially in line with similarly aged populations abroad. Our findings confirm that unhealthy risk behaviours are more frequent among LGBTQ+, in particular among bisexual women. Rather than targeting specific subpopulations, our study aims to show the need for health promotion interventions that aim at the empowerment of all students regardless of sexual orientation, being aware that SGMs can benefit to a relatively greater extent.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8583234PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111724DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

risk behaviours
16
compared heterosexual
12
higher odds
12
sexual gender
8
gender minorities
8
university students
8
heterosexual counterparts
8
study aims
8
sexual orientation
8
non-regular protective
8

Similar Publications

Transgender (TG) people are individuals whose gender identity and sex assigned at birth do not match. They often undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), a medical intervention that allows the acquisition of secondary sex characteristics more aligned with their individual gender identity, providing consistent results in the improvement of numerous socio-psychological variables. However, GAHT targets different body systems, and some side effects are recorded, although not yet fully identified and characterized.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cell fate decisions during cortical development sculpt the identity of long-range connections that subserve complex behaviors. These decisions are largely dictated by mutually exclusive transcription factors, including CTIP2/Bcl11b for subcerebral projection neurons and BRN1/Pou3f3 for intra-telencephalic projection neurons. We have recently reported that the balance of cortical CTIP2-expressing neurons is altered in a mouse model of DDX3X syndrome, a female-biased neurodevelopmental disorder associated with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and significant motor challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Sexual Abuse History Questionnaire (SAHQ), a widely used screening tool for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent/adult sexual assault (AASA) experiences, has limited examination of its psychometric properties in diverse populations. Our study assessed the SAHQ's psychometric properties (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pediatric dental health is critically impacted by enamel demineralization and early-stage caries, with remineralization therapies playing a vital role in preventing progression. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of various delivery methods for remineralization agents in pediatric patients aged 3-15 years, focusing on varnishes, gels, foams, and sprays. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, or case-control studies involving pediatric patients with early-stage caries or enamel demineralization, while studies with non-pediatric populations, unrelated treatments, or significant methodological flaws were excluded.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Smoking behaviors can be quantified using various indices. Previous studies have shown that these indices measure and predict health risks differently. Additionally, the choice of measure differs depending on the health outcome of interest.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!