A new study claims that being
homophobic can knock an average of 2.5 years off a person's life.
“Heterosexuals who reported higher
levels of anti-gay prejudice had higher mortality risk than those who
reported lower levels, with control for multiple risk factors for
mortality, including demographics, socioeconomic status, and fair or
poor self-rated health,” wrote researchers in publishing their
findings in the February issue of the American
Journal of Public Health.
“This result translates into a life
expectancy difference of approximately 2.5 years between individuals
with high versus low levels of anti-gay prejudice.”
The study, titled Anti-Gay Prejudice
and All-Cause Mortality Among Heterosexuals in the United States,
was led by Mark L. Hatzenbuehler of Columbia University.
Hatzenbuehler and his team also found
that homophobia was associated with increased risk of
cardiovascular-related causes of death.
The study's conclusion: “The findings
contribute to a growing body of research suggesting that reducing
prejudice may improve the health of both minority and majority
populations.”