Mental health and substance use of lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members: A first look

Purpose: Little research has examined the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) military members as a result of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” (DADT) policy. Research on LGB civilians has shown the stress of hiding one's sexual identity may increase the likelihood of psychological problems. With the recent repeal of DADT, this study aimed to 1) identify the percentage of LGB personnel, and 2) investigate whether or not LGB service members were at increased risk for mental health problems or substance use. Methods: The 2011 Health Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), was an anonymous online survey. The survey was completed by 5,461 USCG active duty personnel and represents the first time personnel were asked to identify their sexual orientation. Results: Approximately 3.1% of USCG personnel identified as LGB (10.3% of females and 1.9% of males). After controlling for demographics, LGB service members were more likely to report heavy drinking (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.5-4.0), high anxiety symptoms (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.3-3.1), high depression symptoms (OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.2-3.7), and suicide ideation since joining the USCG (OR=3.4, 95%CI=2.1-5.7). The analyses found no differences between LGB and heterosexual members in cigarette smoking, posttraumatic stress symptoms, high resilience level, high positive affect, or experiencing sexual abuse. Conclusion: The overall percentage of LGB personnel was comparable to civilian estimates. Findings indicated LGB personnel were at greater risk for some mental health issues and may need additional support, but the lack of differences on a number of measures was encouraging.