The relationship between trust in healthcare and health information avoidance among LGBTQ+ emerging adults

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) individuals often face discrimination within the healthcare system which may influence their decisions to seek or avoid health information. In a survey assessing past health information avoidance behavior, experiences, and attitudes among LGBTQ+ young adult participants in the United States ( N = 751, mean age = 23), we examined whether trust in healthcare predicted past health information avoidance behavior. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that healthcare trust was a significant predictor of past information avoidance behavior ( p < 0.001), such that each one-point increase on the healthcare trust scale (1–5) was associated with a 50.4% decrease in the odds of avoiding health information. Consistent with predictions, this study found that lower levels of trust within healthcare were associated with higher levels of information avoidance, suggesting important implications for health and wellness among LGBTQ+ individuals.