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Bisexuality, Minority Stress, and Health

  • Variations in Orientation, Identity, Addiction, and Compulsion (E Coleman and J Vencill, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Sexual Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Bisexual individuals are at increased risk for negative health outcomes compared to heterosexual individuals and often compared to gay/lesbian individuals as well. The goal of this article is to summarize the current evidence-base on bisexual health disparities, to describe factors that influence them, and to review interventions designed to improve the health of bisexual individuals.

Recent Findings

Based on our review of the literature, we conclude that there is strong evidence that bisexual individuals are at increased risk for mental health and substance use problems. These disparities are evident across dimensions of bisexuality (identity, attraction, and behavior), but there are important nuances to these findings. There is also evidence that bisexual men are at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to heterosexual men and that bisexual women are at increased risk for STIs compared to both lesbians and heterosexual women. Although there are numerous causes of these disparities, a leading contributor is stress related to stigma and discrimination. Most of the interventions that have been developed for bisexual individuals are HIV prevention programs for behaviorally bisexual men of color. Despite less attention to mental health and substance use interventions for bisexual individuals, recent developments show promise in their potential application to this population.

Summary

Bisexual individuals are at increased risk for mental health, substance use, and sexual health problems, and this is due, in part, to stigma and discrimination. Future research should continue to examine how different dimensions of bisexuality relate to health disparities and factors that influence them. There is also an urgent need to develop, test, and disseminate interventions to improve the health of bisexual individuals..

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Brian A. Feinstein

  2. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Christina Dyar

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  1. Brian A. Feinstein
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  2. Christina Dyar
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Correspondence to Brian A. Feinstein.

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Brian A. Feinstein and Christina Dyar each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Variations in Orientation, Identity, Addiction, and Compulsion

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Feinstein, B.A., Dyar, C. Bisexuality, Minority Stress, and Health. Curr Sex Health Rep 9, 42–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0096-3

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