Toward global comparability of sexual orientation data in official statistics: a conceptual framework of sexual orientation for health data collection in New Zealand's official statistics system.

OBJECTIVE: Effectively addressing health disparities experienced by sexual minority populations requires high-quality official data on sexual orientation. We developed a conceptual framework of sexual orientation to improve the quality of sexual orientation data in New Zealand's Official Statistics System. METHODS: We reviewed conceptual and methodological literature, culminating in a draft framework. To improve the framework, we held focus groups and key-informant interviews with sexual minority stakeholders and producers and consumers of official statistics. An advisory board of experts provided additional guidance. RESULTS: The framework proposes working definitions of the sexual orientation topic and measurement concepts, describes dimensions of the measurement concepts, discusses variables framing the measurement concepts, and outlines conceptual grey areas. CONCLUSION: The framework proposes standard definitions and concepts for the collection of official sexual orientation data in New Zealand. It presents a model for producers of official statistics in other countries, who wish to improve the quality of health data on their citizens.

Sexual orientation and alcohol use: identity versus behavior measures.

BACKGROUND: Few population-based national studies include complete measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and sexual orientation. When measures of sexual orientation are included in alcohol surveys, typically only one measure is included. The purpose of this paper is to compare two ways of measuring sexual orientation and to explore the relationship of each measure with alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. METHODS: Data were used from the 2000 National Alcohol Survey, a telephone national alcohol probability survey representative of U.S. adults 18 and over (N = 7,612). Sexual orientation was measured by two self-reported measures: sexual orientation identity and sexual behavior. Alcohol use and problems were assessed by number of drinks in the last year, number of days drank 5 or more drinks in the last year, social consequences, and DSM-IV alcohol dependence. RESULTS: There is no consistent pattern of alcohol use or alcohol-related problems based on how sexual orientation is measured for men. For women, bisexual identity or bisexual behavior was consistently associated with greater alcohol use and problems as compared to heterosexual identity or heterosexual behavior. Use of behavior measures alone appears to provide lower estimates of alcohol- related consequences and dependence among lesbian respondents. CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the utility of using both identity and behavior items to measure sexual orientation particularly for women when assessing alcohol use and alcohol-related problems.