Health Psychology, Vol 45(7), Jul 2026, 748-760; doi:10.1037/hea0001594
Objective: Self-rated health (SRH), as measured by a single item, is a well-established and remarkably robust predictor of morbidity and mortality, yet few studies have examined its biological correlates across diverse sexual orientation identities. Method: Using data from the population-representative National Couples’ Health and Time study (NCHAT) and its biospecimen substudy (NCHAT-BIO), this study explored the relationship between lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or other nonheterosexual identities (LGBQ+), SRH, and systemic inflammation. Among 3,477 partnered (married or cohabiting) cisgender adults, 42.6% identified as LGBQ+, and a subset of 652 (41.3% LGBQ+) provided dried blood spot samples analyzed for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: In the full NCHAT sample, LGBQ+ respondents reported significantly poorer SRH than their heterosexual peers (LGBQ+ vs. heterosexual: t = 3.3574, df = 3,466, p value SE = .042, p p p value for IL-6: .46, for CRP: .39). The associations between SRH and inflammatory markers were slightly attenuated after inclusion of key health and behavioral covariates, suggesting potential mediating factors warranting future investigation. Conclusions: These findings replicate prior research on SRH and inflammation and extend them to LGBQ+ plus adults, underscoring the importance of inclusive health measurement. Given SRH’s robust predictive power for future morbidity and mortality, integrating assessments of sexual orientation and biological markers offers critical insight for understanding and addressing health disparities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)