Covid-19-Related Stress Among LGBTQ+ University Students: Results of a U.S. National Survey

Salerno, John P.; Pease, M; Devadas, Jackson; Nketia, Bryanna; Fish, Jessica N.

doi:10.13016/zug9-xtmi

Cited by 11 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…The current study found exceptionally high rates of psychological distress, with 95.8% reporting moderate psychological distress (Prochaska et al, 2012) and 53.1% of the sample reporting severe psychological distress (Kessler et al, 2010). The prevalence of severe psychological distress observed here is higher than in past samples of transgender individuals (Turban et al, 2020) and higher than COVID-19-era samples of LGBTQ+ young adults on the Kessler 10 scale (43%; Salerno, Pease, et al, 2020), indicating disparities that could be related both to pandemic-related vulnerabilities (further illustrated by the significant relation between pandemic stress and psychological distress) and to unique experiences of gender minority (vs. sexual minority) young adults.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

“…Systems of economic oppression and high rates of poverty and homelessness among transgender folx add an additional layer of risk for this population (Herman & O’Neill, 2020). Emerging data show high levels of LGBTQ+ minority stressors, psychological distress, and other disparities associated with the pandemic (Gonzales et al, 2020; Kidd et al, 2021; Salerno, Pease, et al, 2020). One study examining a small sample of trans youth found that the gender diverse participants experienced more mental health concerns, more mental health service disruptions, and less familial support than their cisgender counterparts during COVID-19 (Hawke et al, 2021).…”

Section: Trans Minority Stress Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Minority stress, pandemic stress, and mental health among gender diverse young adults: Gender dysphoria and emotion dysregulation as mediators.

Pease¹,

Le²,

Iwamoto³

2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Gender diverse people in the United States are uniquely vulnerable to deleterious health outcomes because of long-enshrined systems of oppression and marginalization in American society. Trans young adults are especially vulnerable to these deleterious outcomes owing to their unique position in the life course. However, more research is needed on the mechanisms through which this marginalization contributes to mental health disparities in trans populations. Using a minority stress framework and online cross-sectional survey design, the current study examines potential mediators of the relationship between transgender identity-related distal stress and psychological distress from late May to early July 2020 in a sample of transgender young adults (N = 239; ages 18–29). More than half the sample scored above the K6 cutoff for severe psychological distress. Distal stress had a significant direct (β = .17, SE = .04, t = 2.76, p = .006) and indirect effect on psychological distress. Distal stress was indirectly associated with psychological distress through gender dysphoria (β = .04; 95% CI [.001, .10]) and emotion dysregulation (β = .16; 95% CI [.09, .23]). COVID-19 pandemic stressors were also positively associated with psychological distress (β = .36, SE = .12, t = 5.95, p < .001). Results highlight the significant mental health burden facing the trans community especially in the COVID-19 context, support a conceptualization of gender dysphoria as connected to experiences of oppression, and affirm the relevance of emotion dysregulation within minority stress frameworks. Mental health resources cognizant of the specific challenges experienced by trans young adults as well as policy changes that seek to address underlying structural transphobia in American culture and institutions are urgently needed.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 68%

Section: Trans Minority Stress Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minority stress, pandemic stress, and mental health among gender diverse young adults: Gender dysphoria and emotion dysregulation as mediators.

Pease¹,

Le²,

Iwamoto³

2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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“…The LGBQ emerging adults in the sample were living with their parents during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who were living with their parents may have had to rely on family for support more directly than they would have had to prior to COVID-19 and have had more direct contact with family, which some LGBTQ youth have indicated as somewhat harmful (Fish et al, 2020; Salerno, Pease, et al, 2020). Thus, the need for further evidence exploring the links between family support and depression is contextually heightened.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasocial relationships and depression among LGBQ emerging adults living with their parents during COVID-19: The potential for online support.

Woznicki

Arriaga

Caporale‐Berkowitz

et al. 2021

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youth continue to be disproportionately at risk for depression. During COVID-19 social distancing, LGBQ youth who live with family may be more consistently exposed to potentially discriminatory family situations, and may receive reduced community and mental health support. However, the Internet offers opportunities to interact with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities by watching videos of, and developing one-way relationships-or parasocial relationships-with, LGBTQ media personalities on platforms such as YouTube. The current study explored how parasocial relationships with LGBTQ YouTubers may moderate the links between family support, loneliness, and depression symptoms among LGBQ emerging adults living with their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 183 LGBQ emerging adults (age 18 -23) was recruited from the United States in mid-July 2020. Results of a moderated mediation regression indicated that parasocial relationship strength moderated the links between family support and loneliness, and loneliness and depression symptoms. The associations between family support and loneliness, and between loneliness and depression symptoms, were weakened by high parasocial relationship strength. These findings contribute to understanding parasocial relationships' connections to well-being among marginalized groups during a crisis and highlight the potential of online solutions to emerging mental health disparities being experienced by LGBQ youth disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Significance StatementParasocial relationships are one-way relationships with media personalities that may have associations with well-being for socially marginalized groups. In our study, high parasocial relationship strength weakened the associations between family support and loneliness, and between loneliness and depression, among LGBQ emerging adults living with their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…Given that LGBTQ cannabis users face a disproportionately high burden of mental health and substance use disparities in comparison to their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts, it is essential to explore the mechanisms and causal pathways that lead to such burdens. For instance, young LGBTQ persons may be confined to their parents’ homes and face risks for experiencing family-related rejection, victimization, and concealment of their identities (Fish et al, 2020; Gonzales et al, 2020; Salerno, Pease, et al, 2020); such minority stressors may be linked with mental health burdens among LGBTQ young persons amid the COVID-19 pandemic (Salerno, Devadas, et al, 2020). Further, LGBTQ young persons may be lacking access to needed university and K–12 school resources, such as mental health services, gender and sexuality alliances, and other affirming supports that typically protect against negative mental health outcomes (Russell & Fish, 2016; Salerno, Devadas, et al, 2020; Salerno, Pease, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health among LGBTQ cannabis users during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of the COVID-19 cannabis health study.

Gattamorta

Salerno

Islam

et al. 2021

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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The purpose of this study is to compare the responses of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) cannabis consumers and their non-LGBTQ counterparts on anxiety, depression, substance use, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coping and stress during the pandemic. Data from an Internet survey of cannabis users during the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed (N = 2,319). Approximately 18% of the sample identified as LGBTQ. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between LGBTQ identity and symptoms of anxiety and depression, substance use, and pandemic-related coping strategies and stressors. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between pandemic stressors and coping strategies with LGBTQ identity, while adjusting for sex, age, and race and ethnicity. Differences in the proportion of medicinal cannabis use among LGBTQ respondents (74.6%) and non-LGBTQ respondents (75.3%) were insignificant. LGBTQ cannabis users were more likely to report COVID-19–related stressors and coping behaviors, including increased alcohol use. After adjustment for covariates, LGBTQ cannabis users were more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-LGBTQ cannabis users. These results show that compared to their cisgender heterosexual counterparts, LGBTQ cannabis users are experiencing more problematic mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Covid-19-Related Stress Among LGBTQ+ University Students: Results of a U.S. National Survey

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Minority stress, pandemic stress, and mental health among gender diverse young adults: Gender dysphoria and emotion dysregulation as mediators.

Minority stress, pandemic stress, and mental health among gender diverse young adults: Gender dysphoria and emotion dysregulation as mediators.

Parasocial relationships and depression among LGBQ emerging adults living with their parents during COVID-19: The potential for online support.

Mental health among LGBTQ cannabis users during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of the COVID-19 cannabis health study.

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