Impact of family rejection and racism on sexual and gender minority stress among LGBTQ young people of color during COVID-19.

Abstract

Objective: Given the inequitable impact of COVID-19 on sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and current sociopolitical racial justice concerns in the United States, this study examines the impact of SGM-related family rejection and racism since the start of COVID-19 on SGM-related internalized homophobia and identity concealment among SGM college students of color (SOC). Method: Participants were a subset of SOC (n = 200) from a larger nonprobability cross-sectional study about minority stress and COVID-19 pandemic experiences among SGM college students. Participants completed survey items specifically related to changes in minority stress and racism experiences since the start of COVID-19. Logistic regression models were used to examine the independent and interactive effects of racism and family rejection on identity concealment and internalized homophobia since the start of COVID-19 (adjusting for covariates). Results: Main effects models revealed that increased racism and family rejection were significantly associated with greater odds of experiencing identity concealment since the start of COVID-19. The interaction of increased racism and family rejection was also significantly associated with greater odds of experiencing identity concealment since the start of COVID-19. Conclusions: Study findings suggest that the intersection of racism and family rejection since the start of COVID-19 consequently translates to increased experiences of identity concealment. Such experiences are known to negatively impact mental health across the life course among SGM young people. Public health, medical, mental health, and higher education stakeholders must implement SGM-affirmative and antiracist practices and interventions to support SGM SOC during COVID-19 and beyond its containment. Clinical Impact StatementThe COVID-19 pandemic will result in long-term negative physical and mental health effects for LGBTQ young people. This study indicates that among LGBTQ young people of color specifically, experiencing LGBTQ-related family rejection and racism leads to more experiences of LGBTQrelated identity concealment, which is known to negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. These findings are important for public health, medical, mental health, and higher education practitioners to know so that they can support LGBTQ youth of color during COVID-19 and beyond its containment, via the use of antiracist and LGBTQ-affirming practices that promote psychological and physical wellbeing.

Family rejection of non-hetero sexuality–Sexual orientation and behavior anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities-BSGH 001

“…Studies show parents who knew their children's sexual orientation/behavior were more likely to reject these identities which resulted in the dissolution of their relationships [65]. Prior research has also found that family rejection of identity is detrimental to SMM's mental and physical health [66][67][68][69].…”

Family rejection and LGBTQ+ Asian Americans’ psychological distress and disordered eating: The role of conflicts in allegiances and family shame.

“…Given the aforementioned pressure parents of LGBTQ+ Asian Americans may feel to ensure children conform to oppressive structures to allow them to live easier lives (Ma & Lan, 2022) combined with colonial impositions of homophobic and transphobic ideologies (Laurent, 2005), we might then see those structural issues manifest in family rejection of their children’s LGBTQ+ identities. Experiencing family rejection has been associated with a plethora of negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people (Russell, 2019; Ryan et al, 2009; Salerno et al, 2023), which makes sense given the critical role that family connections play developmentally. Family rejection, reflecting a failure to meet familial, cultural, and/or religious expectations (i.e., filial piety), may also lead to LGBTQ+ Asian Americans internalizing feelings of shame (Hu & Wang, 2013; Huang et al, 2016).…”

Disparities in COVID-19-related trauma and internalizing symptoms across sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and their intersection during the pandemic.

“…Notably, there is a dearth of studies on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of multiply minoritized communities, though a range of related risk factors have been identified for LGBTQ+ individuals of color, including the potential for experiencing multiple sources of discrimination and limited access to affirming care (Pacheco et al, 2021). There is also nascent work with sexual and gender minority individuals of color suggesting that increased racism and family rejection have been associated with greater odds for experiencing internalized homophobia since the start of COVID-19 (Salerno et al, 2022), which may lead to poorer mental health outcomes. Altogether, these experiences may have contributed to a rise in mental health disparities among minoritized individuals, as well as among those with multiply minoritized identities (e.g., individuals who identify as both sexual and racial/ethnic minorities).…”