Race/Ethnicity And Sexual Orientation Disparities In Mental Health, Sexism, And Social Support Among Women Veterans

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify patterns of risk and resilience by the intersections of race/ethnicity and sexual orientation in mental health symptom severity, sexism, and social support among U.S. women veterans. Method: A national sample of women veterans (N = 648; 38% sexual minority, 15% racial/ethnic minority) was recruited online in 2013. Using cross-sectional survey data, we evaluated main and interactive associations between race/ethnicity and sexual orientation on depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, unhealthy alcohol use, sexism, and social support. Models were adjusted for other demographic characteristics. Results: Across depression, anxiety, and sexism, White heterosexual women reported the least distress and racial/ethnic minority heterosexual women reported the most distress (Race/Ethnicity x Sexual Orientation interactions, p < .05). Among White women, sexual minority women reported greater levels of depression, anxiety, and sexism than heterosexual women. The effects were the opposite among racial/ethnic minority women, in which heterosexual women reported similar or worse depression, anxiety, and sexism than sexual minority women. There were no race/ethnicity or sexual orientation interaction effects on posttraumatic stress symptoms or unhealthy alcohol use and marginally significant effects on social support. Conclusions: Among women veterans, race/ethnicity and sexual orientation were associated with mental health and sexism, alone and in combination. Findings suggest that those who were both racial/ethnic and sexual minorities may develop resilience from their lived experience. On the other hand, women veterans with a minority race/ ethnicity or a minority sexual orientation appeared more vulnerable to adverse outcomes and may need targeted care.