Blake Hawkins

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Among Bisexual People Compared to Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Individuals:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Over the past decade, evidence has accumulated to suggest that bisexual people experience higher rates of poor mental health outcomes compared to both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals. However, no previous meta-analyses have been conducted to establish the magnitude of these disparities. To address this research gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that reported bisexual-specific data on standardized measures of depression or anxiety. Of the 1,074 full-text articles reviewed, 1,023 were ineligible, predominantly because they did not report separate data for bisexual people (n = 562 studies). Ultimately, 52 eligible studies could be pooled in the analysis. Results indicate that across both outcomes, there is a consistent pattern of lowest rates of depression and anxiety among heterosexual people, while bisexual people exhibit higher or equivalent rates in comparison to lesbian/gay people. On the basis of empirical and theoretical literature, we propose three interrelated contributors to these disparities: experiences of sexual orientation-based discrimination, bisexual invisibility/erasure, and lack of bisexual-affirmative support. Implications for interventions to improve the health and well-being of bisexual people are proposed.

LGBT cyberspaces: a need for a holistic investigation

Cyberspaces provide many opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth to build social networks, share information, and become more informed about their sexuality without the risk of being ‘outed’. Concurrently, however, there are a myriad of risks that problematize this positive narrative associated with these cyberspaces. There is a scarcity of scholarship in geographical literature about the risks related to youths’ interactions with LGBT cyberspaces. To date, most of the available scholarship pertains to the beneficial outcomes related to cyberspaces. However, we propose that researchers need to critically investigate the unhealthy behaviors produced by cyberspaces. There are a variety of online communities and websites that provide inaccurate health information, and this could inform poor health decision-making by LGBT youth.

Reflections on the use of participatory mapping to study everyday health information seeking by LGBTQ youth

Participatory mapping is a promising data collection method for use in information behavior (IB) research. It provides an opportunity for participants to think spatially and critically about their community‐based information practices. This methodology paper provides an example and offers some critical insights into the use and value of participatory mapping. We present our experiences using this method in a study of community‐based health information seeking by LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) youth.

Seeking ways to our transgender bodies, by ourselves: Rationalizing transgender-specific health information behaviors: Seeking Ways to Our Transgender Bodies, by Ourselves: Rationalizing Transgender-Specific Health Information Behaviors

Transgender people have typically been pooled in studies on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) health information behavior. We, however, argue that transgender people have unique health needs and context that differ from LGBQ people. To demonstrate our argument, we are using the transitioning process from male‐to‐female or female‐to‐male as a case study. We are using data currently being analyzed from Tumblr to demonstrate how their process of seeking health information differs from LGBQ and highlights why information science needs to better understand this population and their information needs.

Queering (meta)data ontologies

Meta/data are not neutral terms and mean various things for different communities and demographics. One such community that lacks much discussion about their ontologies of meta/data are the LGBTQ communities. With current practices of meta/data production, are the opinions of LGBTQ people properly represented? In this paper we position an ongoing project that is trying to understand the opinions of LGBTQ people regarding meta/data. We briefly provide some context to the broader project and also share our study design for the project. From this paper we hope to position how and why this type of work is necessary for LGBTQ people.

Queering the Countryside: New Frontiers in Rural Queer Studies, by Mary L. Gray, Brian J. Gilley, & Colin R. Johnson (Eds.): New York, NY: NYU Press, 2017. 416 pp.

This edited collection by Mary L. Gray, Brian J. Gilley, and Colin R. Johnson piqued my interest from the moment I read the title: Queering the Countryside: New Frontiers in Rural Queer Studies. As...

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Background While services tailored for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) may provide support for this vulnerable population, planning access to these services can be difficult due to the unknown spatial distribution of gbMSM outside of gay-centered neighborhoods. This is particularly true since the emergence of geosocial networking apps, which have become a widely used venue for meeting sexual partners. Objective The goal of our research was to estimate the spatial density of app users across Metro Vancouver and identify the independent and adjusted neighborhood-level factors that predict app user density. Methods This pilot study used a popular geosocial networking app to estimate the spatial density of app users across rural and urban Metro Vancouver. Multiple Poisson regression models were then constructed to model the relationship between app user density and areal population-weighted neighbourhood-level factors from the 2016 Canadian Census and National Household Survey. Results A total of 2021 app user profiles were counted within 1 mile of 263 sampling locations. In a multivariate model controlling for time of day, app user density was associated with several dissemination area–level characteristics, including population density (per 100; incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), average household size (IRR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11-0.62), average age of males (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98), median income of males (IRR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.99), proportion of males who were not married (IRR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), proportion of males with a postsecondary education (IRR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10), proportion of males who are immigrants (IRR 1.04, 95% CI 1.004-1.07), and proportion of males living below the low-income cutoff level (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.98). Conclusions This pilot study demonstrates how the combination of geosocial networking apps and administrative datasets might help care providers, planners, and community leaders target online and offline interventions for gbMSM who use apps.

Using Geosocial Networking Apps to Understand the Spatial Distribution of Gay and Bisexual Men: Pilot Study

A large proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) health information behavior scholarship emphasizes sexual health topics. This project, however, concerned LGBTQ youth information behaviors on everyday health topics. We asked youth to map where they prefer to go for health information and when in those places, how they find health information. The most commonly discussed topic by participants was either how to find or what is quality information. Interestingly, participants had varying opinions on what is associated with both how to find or what is quality information. This paper describes the opinions of the youth on the significance and characteristics of quality information.

Does quality matter? Health information behaviors of LGBTQ youth in Prince George, Canada: Does Quality Matter? Health Information Behaviors of LGBTQ Youth in Prince George, Canada

In recent years, librarians in various sectors have been moving forward a conversation on the distinct information needs and information-seeking behavior of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) patrons and how well the profession recognizes and meets those needs. Health sciences librarianship has been slower than other areas of the profession in creating an evidence base covering the needs of its LGBTQ patrons, with, until recently, only very limited literature on this subject. LGBTQ health sciences librarianship is now starting to attract new interest, with librarians working together to bring this emerging specialization to the attention of the broader professional community. In this paper, the authors report on a dedicated panel discussion that took place at the 2016 joint annual meeting of the Medical Library Association and Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; discuss subsequent reflections; and highlight the emerging role for health sciences librarians in providing culturally competent services to the LGBTQ population. Recommendations are also provided for establishing a tool kit for LGBTQ health sciences librarianship from which librarians can draw. We conclude by highlighting the importance of critically reflective practice in health sciences librarianship in the context of LGBTQ health information.

Advancing the conversation: next steps for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) health sciences librarianship

This edited collection by Mary L. Gray, Brian J. Gilley, and Colin R. Johnson piqued my interest from the moment I read the title: Queering the Countryside: New Frontiers in Rural Queer Studies. As...