A couples-focused continuation of the 23-year longitudinal CHLEW study of sexual minority women’s health

The Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) is a 23-year study that focuses on the health and well-being of women who identify as other than heterosexual (e.g., lesbian, bisexual, queer).

Historically, sexual minority women have been largely ignored in health research, and the little attention given to them has too often focused on negative health behaviors and poor health. Dr. Hughes and her team designed the CHLEW study to gain a ‘whole person’ understanding of health—of both the stressors that sexual minority women face, and their substantial strengths and resilience. Since the study began at the University of Illinois Chicago in 2000, we have interviewed 822 racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse women. We have completed four waves of interviews with our first cohort, and two waves with our second cohort, who were added to our study in 2010.

Now expanded to include investigators at Columbia University’s School of Nursing, the CHLEW team launched a new study in 2020—this time focused on couples. Again taking a ‘whole person’ approach, the CHLEW Couples study seeks to understand how intimate relationships and minority stress impact the health and well-being of sexual minority women and their partners. The information gained from the CHLEW informs policy, research, and healthcare tailored to meet the unique needs of sexual minority and other under-served groups of women.

The CHLEW Couples Study finished recruiting participants in early 2023. Stay tuned for what we’ve been learning about sexual minority women’s health and relationships!

Our affiliated studies

• The longitudinal CHLEW study has been on-going for 23 years and has now completed a fifth wave of interviews. Over the years the “parent” CHLEW study has led to other CHLEW projects over the years, including the Couples study and those listed below.

• The CHLEW Sisters study aims to interview CHLEW study participants and their heterosexual biological sister to better understand how sexual identity and traumatic life experiences are related to cardiovascular disease risk.

• The Daily Diary study recruited CHLEW participants who identified as bisexual to participate in an electronic diary study to examine the health effects of microaggressions.

• We have received funding for two studies related to COVID-19. The first was a qualitative study that included in-depth, open-ended interviews with 18 diverse CHLEW participants about their experiences during the pandemic. The second COVID study is an on-line survey of all CHLEW participants. This study aims to gain a fuller understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on multiple aspects of participants’ lives.