"Family Is the Beginning but Not the End": Intergenerational LGBTQ Chosen Family, Social Support, and Health in a Vietnamese American Community Organization

Homophobia and anti-LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) discrimination within ethnic communities can negatively impact the health of LGBTQ people. The formation of chosen families has been a source of social support that may have health benefits for LGBTQ people. This ethnographic study explores how participation in a LGBTQ Vietnamese American community organization reveals the salience of chosen family in informing individual members' perceptions of their health and well-being. Fifteen members were interviewed and over 30 were included in a 6-month participant-observation period. Three themes emerged: 1) queering family and kinship, 2) Vietnamese motherhood and the social reproduction of the family, 3) social ties and community connectedness as relational dimensions of health. Findings suggest that specific ethnic social support via chosen family formations for LGBTQ Vietnamese Americans can shape individuals' sense of self, sense of belonging, purpose in life, and consequently perceptions of well-being.

Sleep problems among sexual minorities: a longitudinal study on the influence of the family of origin and chosen family

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults experience more sleep problems than the general population. As LGB individuals experience a significantly greater risk of family rejection and low family support, our study investigates the role of family support as a potential determinant of LGB sleep problems over a prolonged period, and whether friend support (i.e. chosen family) can mitigate the effect of low family support. Given the importance of sleep on mental and physical health, study results may help shed light on persistent health disparities across sexual orientations.

METHODS

Our sample included 1703 LGB individuals from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). Mixed-effect logistic regressions were used to estimate the effect of family and friend support on the development of sleep problems after 24 months while controlling for potential confounders. A modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure 1) presence of any sleep problems, 2) short sleep duration, and 3) poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Family support at baseline was independently associated with all sleep problems in our study after 24-months: 1 SD increase in family support was associated with a 0.94 times lower risk of sleep problems (95% C.I = 0.90-0.98), a 0.88 times lower risk of short sleep duration (95% C.I = 0.81-0.95), and a 0.92 times lower risk of sleep quality (95% C.I = 0.93-0.98). Support from one's chosen family (proxied by friend support) did not mitigate the effects of low family support on sleep problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a consistent effect of family support across all sleep outcomes along with evidence of a persistent effect after 24 months. Our findings point to the importance of targeting family support in designing interventions aimed at reducing LGB sleep problems.