How social support and parent–child relationship quality relate to LGBTQ+ college students’ well-being during COVID-19.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted the well-being of many college students, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students who are already at a disproportionate risk for negative mental health and well-being outcomes. To identify potential risk and protective factors we examined LGBTQ+ college students' disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, or both (SOGI) to mothers and fathers, living arrangements (whether or not students lived with mothers and fathers), social support from family and friends, and parent-child relationship quality and their association with stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and problem drinking during the pandemic. LGBTQ+ college students (N = 366; M age = 20.4) completed an online survey. Students who reported more social support from family and friends and better quality relationships with mothers or fathers had better well-being and were less likely to perceive a substantial decrease in their well-being due to the pandemic. In contrast, SOGI disclosure and whether or not students lived with mothers or fathers were generally unrelated to well-being. Findings suggest that universities should consider offering mental health resources for students living on-and off-campus, and that clinical professionals should consider strategies to help these young adults identify and maintain support systems and highlight the value of positive parent-child relationships.

Are Cisgender Women and Transgender and Nonbinary People Drinking More During the COVID-19 Pandemic? It Depends.

“…Compared to cisgender men and SMW peers, TNB respondents reported a lower likelihood of problem drinking (using AUDIT), 130 even though they reported higher psychological distress during the early pandemic. 128 However, based on self-report, TNB respondents were more likely to report substantial increases in drinking during the pandemic.…”

“… 115 , 127 , 129 , 131 When compared with sexual minority college students, TNB college students had a lower likelihood of problem drinking (as determined using AUDIT) and a higher likelihood of self-reporting substantial changes in drinking during the pandemic. 130 TNB college students exhibited increases in mean number of drinks in the past 30 days over the pandemic, but baseline levels were lower than in cisgender men and women peers. 101 However, this body of research would benefit from clearer, more nuanced analyses that disentangle the rich diversity of TNB identities and stratify cisgender people by gender and sexual identity.…”

“…In some studies, the comparison was between TNB people and cisgender (or specifically cisgender and heterosexual) peers. 128 , 130 , 131 In other studies, TNB people were aggregated and compared against cisgender women. 115 , 127 , 129 One study included solely TNB people and evaluated their current behaviors against their retrospectively reported pre-pandemic behaviors.…”

Psychological Adjustment Profiles of LGBTQ+ Young Adults Residing with Their Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study

“…Moreover, despite the increasing importance of friends during emergent adulthood, there is some evidence that individuals’ internal working models of attachment to parents remain critical when under stress [ 94 ]. Given the restrictions imposed by governments on social contact during the pandemic, LGBTQ+ young adults may have found more support and safety from parents and other family members than from friends [ 38 ]. However, LGBTQ+ young adults who had complicated or fragile family relationships may have been placed in a particularly vulnerable situation.…”

“…Transgender and non-binary young people appear to be particularly at risk due to a lack of family support [ 34 ] and to thrive with LGBTQ+ community support [ 35 ]. Not surprisingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a less accepting family climate was associated with poor psychological well-being among LGBTQ+ young adults [ 7 , 11 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”