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The Social Determinants of Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Adults in Nashville, Tennessee

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Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations experience widespread disparities in health outcomes, health behaviors, and access to care compared to their non-LGBT counterparts. Moreover, very few studies have either studied the social determinants of health (SDoH) of LGBT populations or LGBT health in large cities located in the US South. This study uses novel, community-informed, and representative data to study the SDoH of LGBT adults in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Compared to non-LGBT adults (n = 1583), LGBT adults (n = 128) in Nashville, Tennessee, were more likely to report being dissatisfied with life and feeling emotionally upset or physical symptoms as a result of how they were treated based on their race/ethnicity compared to non-LGBT adults. LGBT adults in Nashville were also less likely to keep a firearm in the home than their non-LGBT peers. This study documents new disparities in the SDoH for LGBT adults living in one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the southeastern US. More research on LGBT populations in urban centers located in the US South is critically needed. Meanwhile, locally based community organizations and public health leaders may consider developing and testing innovative solutions to enhance social networks and social supports among LGBT populations. Addressing the SDoH among LGBT adults in southern cities will be essential for achieving health equity for all LGBT populations in the USA.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from NashvilleHealth. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study.

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Acknowledgements

Frances Lavey was a student at Vanderbilt University when this study was conducted. This study was supported by CTSA award number UL1T000445 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Its contents are solely the responsibilities of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NCATS or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Health & Society, Department of Health Policy, Program for Public Policy Studies, LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place PMB #351665, Nashville, TN, 37235-1665, USA

    Gilbert Gonzales

  2. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Frances Lavey

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Correspondence to Gilbert Gonzales.

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Gonzales, G., Lavey, F. The Social Determinants of Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Adults in Nashville, Tennessee. J Urban Health 100, 459–467 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-023-00745-8

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