Psychological Distress and Perceived Barriers to Care for Rural Lesbians

The purpose of the current study was to examine rural lesbians’ experiences of psychological distress and barriers to mental healthcare compared with their nonrural counterparts. A geographically diverse sample of 716 lesbians from across the United States participated in an online study. Results revealed that compared with their nonrural counterparts, rural lesbians experience higher levels of psychological distress. In addition, after controlling for age, race, and education level, rural lesbians were also more likely to report the following barriers to needed mental healthcare: (1) a lack of coverage/financial limitations, (2) a limited availability of providers in their area, and (3) avoidance of care due to fears of discrimination/unfair treatment by a provider. Rural lesbians appear to face greater mental health related vulnerabilities. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.