An estimated 2.3 million women in the United States describe themselves as lesbian (O’Hanlon, 1995), and between 1%–4% of all women may be sexual minorities on the basis of either behavior or self-defined identity (Sell, Wells, & Wypij, 1995). Sexual minority women (SMW) are at risk for health disparities and are a medically underserved population (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000a, 2000b). Unfortunately, the great stigma associated with sexual minority identity has precluded the development of an adequate scientific base from which to design effective interventions targeting health risks for this group (e.g., Solarz, 1999). Moreover, women have been underrepresented in the study of sexual identity (Chung & Katayama, 1996). Thus, we need relevant data based on sound theory and methodologically rigorous research to identify subgroups of SMW at greatest risk, stressors most predictive of adverse outcomes, and mechanisms through which these stressors impact health.

/pdf/the-impact-of-minority-stress-on-mental-health-and-substance-sd8s7q8fpc.pdf

The impact of minority stress on mental health and substance use among sexual minority women.

Objective: To map the state of the existing literature evaluating the use of social media in patient and caregiver populations. Design: Scoping review. Data sources: Medline, CENTRAL, ERIC, PubMed, CINAHL Plus Full Text, Academic Search Complete, Alt Health Watch, Health Source, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Web of Knowledge and ProQuest (2000–2012). Study selection: Studies reporting primary research on the use of social media (collaborative projects, blogs/microblogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual worlds) by patients or caregivers. Data extraction: Two reviewers screened studies for eligibility; one reviewer extracted data from relevant studies and a second performed verification for accuracy and completeness on a 10% sample. Data were analysed to describe which social media tools are being used, by whom, for what purpose and how they are being evaluated. Results: Two hundred eighty-four studies were included. Discussion forums were highly prevalent and constitute 66.6% of the sample. Social networking sites (14.8%) and blogs/microblogs (14.1%) were the next most commonly used tools. The intended purpose of the tool was to facilitate self-care in 77.1% of studies. While there were clusters of studies that focused on similar conditions (eg, lifestyle/weight loss (12.7%), cancer (11.3%)), there were no patterns in the objectives or tools used. A large proportion of the studies were descriptive (42.3%); however, there were also 48 (16.9%) randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Among the RCTs, 35.4% reported statistically significant results favouring the social media intervention being evaluated; however, 72.9% presented positive conclusions regarding the use of social media. Conclusions: There is an extensive body of literature examining the use of social media in patient and caregiver populations. Much of this work is descriptive; however, with such widespread use, evaluations of effectiveness are required. In studies that have examined effectiveness, positive conclusions are often reported, despite non-significant findings.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/3/5/e002819.full.pdf

Social media use among patients and caregivers: a scoping review

Growing interest in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research requires increasingly large samples to uncover epidemiologic trends; such a large dataset is available in a national, web-based autism registry, the Interactive Autism Network (IAN). The objective of this study was to verify parent-report of professional ASD diagnosis to the registry's database via a medical record review on a sample of IAN Research participants. Sixty-one percent of families agreed to participate; 98% (n = 116) of whom provided documentation verifying a professionally diagnosed ASD. Results of this study suggest that information collected from parents participating in IAN Research is valid, participants can be authenticated, and that scientists can both confidently use IAN data and recruit participants for autism research.

Verification of Parent-Report of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis to a Web-Based Autism Registry

On the basis of integrating objectification theory research with research on body image and eating problems among sexual minority men, the present study examined relations among sociocultural and psychological correlates of eating disorder symptoms with a sample of 231 sexual minority men. Results of a path analysis supported tenets of objectification theory with the sample. Specifically, findings were consistent with relations posited in objectification theory among sexual objectification experiences, internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness, body surveillance, body shame, and eating disorder symptoms. Within this set of positive relations, internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness partially mediated the link of sexual objectification experiences with body surveillance; body surveillance partially mediated the relation of internalization with body shame; and body shame partially mediated the relation of body surveillance with eating disorder symptoms. In addition to these relations, internalized homophobia was related to greater eating disorder symptoms through body shame, and recalled childhood harassment for gender nonconformity was linked with eating disorder symptoms through a positive series of relations involving internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness, body surveillance, and body shame.

/pdf/body-image-and-eating-disorder-symptoms-in-sexual-minority-6tkfyoqk8p.pdf

Body image and eating disorder symptoms in sexual minority men: A test and extension of objectification theory.

In this selective review, we examined research on heterosexual dating published in Sex Roles since its inception to determine if dating practices have become more egalitarian over the past 35 years. An analysis of current best-selling dating advice books suggests that gender roles continue to be institutionalized in cultural scripts. A sexual scripts framework was used to categorize research findings to determine if the empirical evidence confirmed the durability of gender roles over time or revealed that dating has become less gender-typed. Research in Sex Roles suggests that heterosexual dating among young adults in the U. S. remains highly gender-typed in terms of cultural scripts (e.g., beliefs, ideals, and expectations), as well as interpersonal scripts (e.g., actual interpersonal emotions, interpersonal behaviors, or behaviors aimed at achieving or signaling a partner). Some variability was observed in interpersonal scripts in terms of occasional initiation of dates by women, for instance, but was not sufficiently widely used to challenge the dominant script. Functional reasons for the persistence of gender stereotypes in dating are presented. In addition, a friendship script is proposed as an alternative, egalitarian model of dating that might fulfill the same functions.

https://faculty.fiu.edu/~aeaton/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Eaton-Rose-2011.pdf

Has Dating Become More Egalitarian? A 35 Year Review Using Sex Roles

This report discusses the process of developing and deploying an Internet-based study that sought to replicate the results of a traditionally administered questionnaire. We present data on the characteristics of respondents, hit and completion rates, and the effectiveness of a dozen different methods of advertising the survey. Overall, we were very successful in soliciting a gay and lesbian sample of Internet-users and collected one of the largest samples for a Web-based survey to date. Publicity methods that addressed the target audience's specific interests were far more effective than broader advertising methods.

Collecting data via the internet: the development and deployment of a web-based survey

This study was designed to examine the influence a potential date’s physical attractiveness and sexual history has on an individual’s intentions to engage in safer sex. Over 1,200 participants completed an Internet survey. The questionnaire presented a randomized biography and photograph and asked participants to rate their interest in dating and having a sexual relationship with the target. Participants were randomly assigned to one of six conditions based on the target’s physical attractiveness (low vs. high) and sexual experience (low, medium, or high). Results indicated that men reported greater intentions to have sex than women did, and all participants reported greater likelihood of having sex when the potential partner was highly attractive. Participants rated men and more experienced targets as more risky sexual partners, and the level of a target’s sexual experience was directly related to participants’ willingness to discuss sexual risks. Results indicate a continuing need to include discussion of cognitive factors in all HIV prevention efforts.

Perceived Physical Attractiveness, Sexual History, and Sexual Intentions: An Internet Study

There is some disagreement as to whether the Internet has a positive or negative impact on social connection and well-being for older adults. Using an online survey, we assessed self-reported social support, health, and Internet use patterns among users over fifty years of age. In a comparison of highly social Internet users versus low-social users, we found that high-social users spent more time on-line and reported more physical and mental health problems. However, the groups did not differ in amount of or satisfaction with social support they received. Implications of these results are discussed.

Social Support and Health Among Senior Internet Users: Results of an Online Survey

ATOD-TV (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs-TV), an interactive multimedia program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was designed to teach the general public about the importance of substance abuse research and treatment. This article examines the process used to develop the program and argues that its success is due more to careful planning and formative evaluation than the use of sophisticated tools and techniques.

Joel Epstein

Papers

Collecting data via the internet: the development and deployment of a web-based survey

Perceived Physical Attractiveness, Sexual History, and Sexual Intentions: An Internet Study

Social Support and Health Among Senior Internet Users: Results of an Online Survey

ATOD-TV: A Case Study on Developing Interactive Multimedia