Disproportionate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Social Support, Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

Moore, Scott Emory; Wierenga, Kelly L.; Prince, Dana M.; Gillani, Braveheart; Mintz, Laura Janine

doi:10.1080/00918369.2020.1868184

Cited by 160 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

127

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…46 Thus, our study results are in line with the existing literature that shows that the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adoption of lockdown measures to contain it has aggravated LGBTQI individuals' mental health. 14 Some participants still mentioned the difficulties in accessing health care, mainly by those who had some pathology, such as HIV. According to the OutRight Action 47 report, sexual minority people without antiretroviral treatment are at risk of contracting the most severe cases of COVID-19.…”

Section: Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The literature constantly identifies significant discrepancies between heterosexual and LGBTQI individuals concerning mental health and well-being, sexual minorities scoring lower. 14,15 Additionally, sexual minorities also show higher prevalence for having mood disorders such as anxiety, experiencing suicidal ideation and behavior, misusing illicit substances, [16][17][18] and experiencing difficulties accessing health, employment, and other socioeconomic resources. 19 The minority stress model may explain how COVID-19 had a more significant impact on LGBTQI individuals than heterosexual people 14 because it causes reduced well-being and greater levels of mental health impairment related to exacerbating and intensifying of preexistent vulnerabilities and inequalities in society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19 The minority stress model may explain how COVID-19 had a more significant impact on LGBTQI individuals than heterosexual people 14 because it causes reduced well-being and greater levels of mental health impairment related to exacerbating and intensifying of preexistent vulnerabilities and inequalities in society. 14,15 Lockdown measures forced many LGBTQI individuals to cease having access to social and community groups that are essential sources of support, thus increasing the psychosocial impairment during the pandemic, including anxiety and depressive symptoms 11,[16][17][18][19][20] as well as limited access to mental health services despite the increase of electronic interventions. 21 Therefore, the need for social and mental health support for LGBTQI individuals becomes evident.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14,15 Additionally, sexual minorities also show higher prevalence for having mood disorders such as anxiety, experiencing suicidal ideation and behavior, misusing illicit substances, [16][17][18] and experiencing difficulties accessing health, employment, and other socioeconomic resources. 19 The minority stress model may explain how COVID-19 had a more significant impact on LGBTQI individuals than heterosexual people 14 because it causes reduced well-being and greater levels of mental health impairment related to exacerbating and intensifying of preexistent vulnerabilities and inequalities in society. 14,15 Lockdown measures forced many LGBTQI individuals to cease having access to social and community groups that are essential sources of support, thus increasing the psychosocial impairment during the pandemic, including anxiety and depressive symptoms 11,[16][17][18][19][20] as well as limited access to mental health services despite the increase of electronic interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

Pereira

Pedro

Mendes

et al. 2021

Journal of Psychosexual Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Not many studies have been reported from Portugal or Brazil to date, reading the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, especially from a qualitative perspective. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 65 self-identified LGB individuals from Portugal and Brazil participated in this study. Thirty-two participants were from Portugal and 33 from Brazil. The average age was 34.48 years (standard deviation = 11.66), ranging from 19 to 67. We used an online interview approach in an asynchronous format. All study respondents completed a structured inquiry consisting of a short section of sociodemographic questions and a single open-ended question: “As a lesbian, gay, bisexual (or other) self-identified person, please elaborate on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your life.” Results: The thematic analysis of participants’ responses revealed 9 recurring themes, encompassing 18 subcategories to occur: mental health (depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and loneliness), isolation (social distancing and leisure impediments), relationships (family and friends), work-related problems, education-related problems, financial problems, changes (behavioral changes and opportunity to grow), coping (seeking support, accessing information and physical activities), and LGBTQI topics (health barriers, going back into the closet, pride celebration events, and online dating). Conclusions: Our results provide voice to LGB Portuguese and Brazilian people during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating specific challenges exacerbated by stigma and sexual discrimination amplified by preexistent social inequalities.

show abstract

Section: Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

Pereira

Pedro

Mendes

et al. 2021

Journal of Psychosexual Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Research on the psychological cost of the pandemic has shown that its consequences, such as mandatory stringent lockdowns, have caused almost unprecedented changes in lifestyle and may have contributed to elevation in psychological distress (e.g., Brooks et al, 2020;Giuntella et al, 2020;Han et al, 2021;Prati & Mancini, 2021). Moreover, this line of research has also highlighted the pandemic's potential disproportionate impact on minorities including but not limited to race, gender, and sexuality (Moore et al, 2021;Mitchell & Li, 2021). Among these minorities is the understudied and vulnerable sub-population of CISs, who have experienced increased xenophobia and discrimination since the onset of the pandemic (Jeung et al, 2021).…”

Section: Psychopathology and Perceived Discrimination Among Chinese International Students One Year Into Covid-19: A Preregistered Comparmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Distress and Perceived Discrimination Among Chinese International Students One Year into COVID-19: A Preregistered Comparative Study

Bi¹,

Yeoh²,

Jiang³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international students(CISs) experienced increased depression and anxiety associated with a combination of unique and universal COVID-19-related stressors. Among these factors, discrimination against Chinese is especially alarming. Therefore, studying correlates of distress including the association between discrimination and distress and factors intensifying or attenuating this link has important implications.Design: We adopted a cross-sectional self-report design.Methods: Our study compared depression and anxiety between CISs (N = 381) and Chinese students in Chinese colleges (CSCCs; N = 306) and examined correlates of distress and, in particular, the association between perceived discrimination and distress as well as moderators on this link within CISs.Results: Compared to CSCCs, CISs reported greater depression and anxiety. Depression was associated with being female, older, non-heterosexual, discrimination, coping inflexibility, low social support, and low satisfaction with online learning. Anxiety was associated with being female, older, heterosexual, discrimination, coping inflexibility, low social support, and low satisfaction with online learning. High perceived social support and being heterosexual weakened the association between discrimination and distress (anxiety and depression). Conclusions: Our study underscored the impact of the pandemic and related discrimination on CISs and highlighted individual differences that may warrant attention.Keywords: COVID-19, Chinese international students, psychopathology, perceived discrimination, intersectionality, minority stress

show abstract

Examination of eating disorder psychopathology across sexual and gender identities among a Canadian sample

Hallward

Rodgers

Ganson

2022

Intl J Eating Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) disproportionately affect sexual and gender minorities, with majority of research conducted among samples in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine ED psychopathology among adolescents and young adults in Canada with diverse gender and sexual identities. Method: Data were collected from 2,714 Canadians, aged 16-30 years old, via an online survey at the end of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants responded to sociodemographic questions (including history of EDs) and reported on eating attitudes and behaviors. Descriptive statistics and multiple modified Poisson and linear regressions were conducted.Results: Over half the sample was heterosexual, 35% were sexual minority cisgender men and women, and 6.5% were transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people. The sample overall reported elevated ED psychopathology based on their eating attitudes and behaviors. TGNC participants reported the most severe ED psychopathology. Generally, sexual minority cisgender women and cisgender men had elevated ED psychopathology compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Regression analyses revealed all gender and sexual minorities reported greater ED psychopathology compared to heterosexual cisgender men.Discussion: The Canadian sample reported elevated ED psychopathology compared to previous studies among various populations. Additional investigations are now needed to observe how ED psychopathology continues to change after the onset of the pandemic. Further research is needed among cisgender men, TGNC people, and sexual minorities to understand the unique stressors they face that lead to high ED psychopathology, and develop appropriate prevention and treatment tools.Public significance: EDs affect people of all gender and sexual identities. People who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority often experience problematic eating attitudes and behaviors, particularly transgender and gender non-conforming people of all sexual identities. More research attention is needed among these populations, especially due to a paucity of research among Canadians, to develop effective diagnostic tools, prevention efforts, and treatment programs specific to gender and sexual identities.

show abstract

Disproportionate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Social Support, Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

Cited by 160 publications

References 32 publications

Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

Psychological Distress and Perceived Discrimination Among Chinese International Students One Year into COVID-19: A Preregistered Comparative Study

Examination of eating disorder psychopathology across sexual and gender identities among a Canadian sample

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About