%0 Journal Article %J Matern Child Health J %D 2013 %T Health disparities among childrearing women with disabilities. %A Kim, Miok %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Hong, Seunghye %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Child Rearing %K Child, Preschool %K Chronic Disease %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Status Indicators %K Health Surveys %K Healthcare Disparities %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Mothers %K Prevalence %K Quality of Life %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

This study examines leading health indicators for childrearing women with disabilities, including health-related quality of life, chronic health conditions, adverse and preventive health behaviors, health care access, and social and emotional support. The study analyzes aggregated data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 28,629). The weighted prevalence of key health indicators of childrearing women with disabilities (aged 18-59) are compared with childrearing women without disabilities. A series of adjusted logistic regression analyses are applied, controlling for confounding variables. When compared to childrearing women without disabilities, childrearing women with disabilities are less likely to have a partner or spouse, report lower income and education levels and are older. Childrearing women with disabilities, compared to childrearing women without disabilities, report significantly lower health-related quality of life including poor general health (adjusted odds ratio[AOR] = 6.85; p < .001), frequent mental distress (AOR = 4.02; p < .001), and frequent poor physical health (AOR = 9.34; p < .001); higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and obesity (the range of AORs = 1.59 to 5.65; p < .001); higher prevalence of adverse health behaviors including smoking (AOR = 2.14; p < .001) and lack of exercise (AOR = 1.61; p < .001); more financial barriers to health care (AOR = 2.11; p < .001) and lack of social and emotional support (AOR = 2.05; p < .001) while controlling for age, education, income, and relationship status. Based on population level data, the study reveals that childrearing women with disabilities experience elevated risks of health disparities across many key health indicators, many of which are preventable and modifiable. These findings underscore the importance of identifying contributing factors and developing interventions to improve the health and quality of life of childrearing women with disabilities.

%B Matern Child Health J %V 17 %P 1260-8 %8 2013 Sep %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1007/s10995-012-1118-4 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2013 %T Risk and protective factors associated with health-related quality of life among older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease. %A Emlet, Charles A %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Bisexuality %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Health Status %K HIV Infections %K Homosexuality, Male %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Prevalence %K Quality of Life %K Risk Factors %K Social Support %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

PURPOSE: To identify risk and protective factors associated with mental and physical health-related quality of life, after controlling for key background characteristics, in a population of older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease. Previous research examining quality of life among persons living with HIV rarely includes older adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Survey responses from 226 gay and bisexual men aged 50 and older, and living with HIV disease, which were part of the Caring and Aging with Pride study, were analyzed using multivariate linear regression models.

RESULTS: Findings reveal that comorbidity, limitations in activities, and victimization are significant risk factors for decreased physical and mental health-related quality of life. Stigma and HIV progression did not contribute to the overall outcome variables in multivariate models. Social support and self-efficacy serve as protective factors although social support was only significant with mental health-related quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS: Comorbidity, functional limitations, and lifetime victimization are risks to quality of life among older gay and bisexual men with HIV disease. Self-efficacy and social support represent intrapersonal and interpersonal resources that can be enhanced through interventions to improve health-related quality of life.

%B Gerontologist %V 53 %P 963-72 %8 2013 Dec %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1093/geront/gns191 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2010 %T Disparities in health-related quality of life: a comparison of lesbians and bisexual women. %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Barkan, Susan E %A Balsam, Kimberly F %A Mincer, Shawn L %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Bisexuality %K Exercise %K Female %K Health Status Disparities %K Homosexuality, Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Poverty %K Quality of Life %K Risk Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Urban Population %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) with sexual orientation among lesbians and bisexual women and compared the predictors of HRQOL between the 2 groups.

METHODS: We used multivariate logistic regression to analyze Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System population-based data (2003 to 2007) in a sample of 1496 lesbians and bisexual women and examined determinants of HRQOL among lesbians and bisexual women.

RESULTS: For lesbians and bisexual women, frequent mental distress and poor general health were associated with poverty and lack of exercise; poor general health was associated with obesity and mental distress. Bisexual women showed a higher likelihood of frequent mental distress and poor general health than did lesbians. The odds of mental distress were higher for bisexual women living in urban areas as compared with nonurban areas. Lesbians had an elevated risk of poor general health and mental distress during midlife.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the standard practice of collapsing sexual minority women into a single group, lesbian and bisexual women in this study emerge as distinct groups that merit specific attention. Bisexual women are at elevated risk for poor HRQOL.

%B Am J Public Health %V 100 %P 2255-61 %8 2010 Nov %G eng %N 11 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2009.177329