Life satisfaction in the Spanish LGBT community: Sexual and gender identities, health and sociodemographic correlates

Abstract

This paper examines differences in the life satisfaction (LS) of Spanish Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community as a function of sexual and gender identities, health and sociodemographic variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted (1,451 LGBT adults) and non-parametric analyses were performed. LG presented higher LS than bisexuals and non-cisgender participants had lower LS than cisgender. LS was lower among obese persons than overweight and normal range groups. Those participants who accomplished the WHO’s physical activity recommendations reported higher LS than those who did not meet them. The oldest persons and those with higher incomes reported higher LS than other corresponding groups by age and SES. This group of sexual, gender, health and sociodemographic correlates of LS among LGBT people provides additional information that may be useful for social policies aimed at improving the quality of life of this community, especially in the economic and health crises due to COVID-19.

Keywords:

• Quality of life
• wellbeing
• sport
• homosexuality
• transgender

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Spanish LGBT associations and all those who selflessly participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Data availability statement

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work is partially supported by the project “Homosexuality, physical education and sport” that received funding from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) under Grand Agreement AEI/10.13039/501100011033.