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July 2002, Vol 92, No. 7 | American Journal of Public Health 1131-1139
© 2002 American Public Health Association

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Prediction of Depressive Distress in a Community Sample of Women: The Role of Sexual Orientation

Alicia K. Matthews, PhD, Tonda L. Hughes, PhD, RN, Timothy Johnson, PhD, Lisa A. Razzano, PhD and Roberta Cassidy, MS, RN

Alicia K. Matthews is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. Tonda L. Hughes and Roberta Cassidy are with the Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Administrative Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago. Timothy Johnson is with the Survey Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago. Lisa A. Razzano is with the Mental Health Services Research Program, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Correspondence: Alicia K. Matthews, PhD, University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 5841 S Maryland Ave (MC3077), Chicago, IL 60637 (e-mail: Amatthew{at}yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu).

Objectives. This study compared factors known or hypothesized to influence depressive symptomatology in a community sample of lesbians and heterosexual women.

Methods. Data were collected in a multisite survey of lesbians' physical and mental health.

Results. Findings confirmed earlier reports suggesting that traumatic life events such as physical and sexual abuse, and individual traits and coping styles are risk factors for depressive distress. However, findings of higher rates of suicidal behavior and of several risk factors for depressive distress among lesbians suggest that risk for depression may differ among lesbians and heterosexual women.

Conclusions. Sexual orientation may represent an important but poorly understood risk factor for depressive distress as well as suicidal ideation and behavior.






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