Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders Midlife Lesbians' Health : A Pilot Study

S. Dibble, N. Sato, E. Haller

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine actual and potential health issues of mid-life lesbians who were Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islanders (A-NHOPI). We explored the health status (body composition,  outness , smoking, alcohol, and abuse) of 29 A-NHOPI lesbians; 34.5% were totally disclosed to family, co-workers, and health care provider. They reported high rates of quitting smoking, and low rates of smoking and alcohol abuse. Childhood physical abuse was reported by 34.7% and childhood sexual abuse was reported by 28.6% of these women. Findings from this study will assist therapists with some of the issues affecting A-NHOPI mid-life lesbians.[Copies are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Center. The Haworth Press, Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA]