scholarly journals Comparing the Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on Mood and Psychiatric Indicators in Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) and Non-SGM Individuals

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Rodriguez-Seijas ◽  
Eric C. Fields ◽  
Ryan Bottary ◽  
Sarah M. Kark ◽  
Michael R. Goldstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Empirical evidence demonstrates mental health disparities between sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) compared with cisgender heterosexual individuals. SGM individuals report elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and behavior. Social support is inversely related to psychiatric symptoms, regardless of SGM status. The COVID-19 pandemic—with its associated limited social interactions—represents an unprecedented period of acute distress with potential reductions in accessibility of social support, which might be of particular concern for SGM individuals' mental well-being. In the present study, we explored the extent to which potential changes in mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, worry, perceived stress, positive and negative affect) throughout the duration of the pandemic were related to differences in perceptions of social support and engagement in virtual social activity, as a function of SGM status. Utilizing a large sample of US adults (N = 1,014; 18% reported SGM status), we assessed psychiatric symptoms, perceptions of social isolation, and amount of time spent socializing virtually at 3 time windows during the pandemic (between March 21 and May 21). Although SGM individuals reported greater levels of depression compared with non-SGM individuals at all 3 time points, there was no interaction between time and SGM status. Across all participants, mental health outcomes improved across time. Perceived social isolation was associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Further, time spent engaging in virtual socialization was associated with reduced depression, but only for those in self-reported quarantine. We discuss these results in terms of the nature of our sample and its impact on the generalizability of these findings to other SGM samples as well as directions for future research aimed at understanding potential health disparities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Differences in Rape Acknowledgement and Mental Health Outcomes across Transgender, Non-binary, and Cisgender Bisexual Youth

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
RaeAnn Anderson ◽  
Lesley A. Tarasoff ◽  
Nicole VanKim ◽  
Corey Flanders
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Stress Theory ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
Rape Acknowledgment ◽  
And Gender

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the rates of rape acknowledgment (labeling rape as rape rather than using a minimizing label), and the corresponding mental health correlates using the minority stress framework in a unique and vulnerable sample: racially diverse sexual and gender minority young adults.Method: Participants were 245 young adults who identified their sexual orientation as under the bisexual umbrella. A total of 159 of these participants (65.2%) identified their gender identity as non-binary. All participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding their sexual victimization history, mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder: PTSD), and constructs relevant to minority stress theory (level of outness, internalized bisexual negativity, connection to LGBTQ community).Results: Rape acknowledgment was significantly greater among gender non-binary participants (79.9%) than among trans and cisgender male participants (17.9%). Lack of rape acknowledgment was associated with increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Outness was significantly associated with greater rape acknowledgment. Conclusions: In spite of the highly increased vulnerability for sexual violence among sexual and gender minorities, very little is understood about the mechanisms of this increased vulnerability nor their unique needs for recovery. The results of this study strongly suggest the importance of a minority stress framework for understanding this increased vulnerability and for designing sexual violence prevention and recovery interventions for sexual and gender minority populations.

scholarly journals Mental Health of Sexual and Gender Minority Oncology Patients: Synthesis of Recommendations for Advancing Health Equity

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-298
Author(s):  
Kaitlin J. Huelsman ◽  
Brittany J. Wright ◽  
Jessica R. Vanderlan ◽  
David H. Morris ◽  
Amaris R. Tippey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at increased risk for several health concerns, including those related to mental health. This increased risk, combined with the unique psychosocial challenges faced by SGM cancer patients, leads to disparities in mental health outcomes across the cancer care continuum. Despite these disparities, little to no resources (e.g. SGM groups, SGM cancer-related literature) exist within most cancer institutes to target SGM populations for appropriate cancer care, such as cancer prevention, accessible treatment, end-of-life, and survivorship concerns, which all may impact psychological wellbeing. This paper synthesizes existing recommendations, both general and cancer-specific, pertaining to the mental health concerns of SGM individuals with hope to provide a valuable resource for cancer institutes and providers on how to better address the unique mental health outcomes of SGM cancer patients. Additional input was obtained from stakeholders from a large, Midwestern, NCI-designated cancer center in an effort to expand our understanding of SGM cancer patients' needs. Through review of relevant guidelines and recommendations and feedback from stakeholder meetings, five broad areas of recommendation for improving SGM cancer care were identified: welcoming environment, patient education and support, community connections, standard approach to care, and research. Rooted in pertinent psychological constructs, each recommendation provides suggestions for increasing attention to SGM patients' psychosocial oncological needs. These recommendations seek to establish culturally inclusive and responsive climates where all SGM cancer patients feel valued and respected.

scholarly journals Comparing substance use and mental health among sexual and gender minority and heterosexual cisgender youth experiencing homelessness

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248077
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hao ◽  
Matthew Beld ◽  
Ladan Khoddam-Khorasani ◽  
Annesa Flentje ◽  
Eva Kersey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Community Organization ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Youth homelessness has been demonstrated to disproportionately affect sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth compared to heterosexual cisgender peers. In this context, we aimed to compare health risks between service-seeking SGM and heterosexual cisgender youth experiencing homelessness, including harmful risks stemming from substance use and severity of symptoms of mental health disorders. We recruited 100 racially diverse, unstably housed participants aged 18–24 who access services at an urban non-profit organization in San Francisco, CA. Data analysis included 56 SGM participants who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, unsure, transgender, and nongender, and 44 heterosexual cisgender participants. In contrast to previous studies reporting significantly higher frequency of substance use and more severe symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among SGM youth compared to heterosexual cisgender peers, many of these health disparities were not observed in our diverse study population of service-seeking youth. Furthermore, with the exception of methamphetamine, SGM participants did not exhibit greater harmful risks resulting from substance use, such as health, social, financial, and legal complications. We discuss the reduced burden of health disparities between SGM and heterosexual cisgender youth in our service-seeking study population within the context of gender- and sexuality-affirming programming offered at the partnering community organization. We conclude that longitudinal data on these tailored community-level interventions are needed to further explore the reduced burden of health disparities observed among service-seeking SGM youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco in order to continue supporting pathways out of homelessness for youth of all sexual and gender identities nationwide.

Epilogue: Challenges in Research Methods and Future Directions on Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 442-453
Author(s):  
David M. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Minority Mental Health ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

This chapter is focused on the challenges that face researchers who are investigating the mental health of sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. The chapter provides an overview of predominant frameworks and theories guiding research on the mental health of SGM individuals in order to highlight the methodological challenges that stem from these guiding frameworks and theories. Although there are challenges specific to certain subgroups within the broader SGM population, this chapter focuses on common challenges that are widely applicable within the field. The author concludes with suggestions for future research that aims to improve the field’s ability to understand and address mental health disparities continuing to face diverse SGM populations.

Evidence of sexual orientation and gender differences in mental health outcomes for violent crime victims

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Cramer ◽  
Martha Shumway ◽  
Amanda M. Amacker ◽  
Dale E. McNiel ◽  
Sarah Holley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Violent Crime ◽  
Crime Victims ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
And Gender

Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health among Children and Youth

2020 ◽  
pp. 228-243
Author(s):  
Jessica N. Fish ◽  
Laura Baams ◽  
Jenifer K. McGuire
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
The World ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young people are coming of age at a time of dynamic social and political changes with regard to LGBTQ rights and visibility around the world. And yet, contemporary cohorts of SGM youth continue to evidence the same degree of compromised mental health demonstrated by SGM youth of past decades. The authors review the current research on SGM youth mental health, with careful attention to the developmental and contextual characteristics that complicate, support, and thwart mental health for SGM young people. Given a large and rapidly growing body of science in this area, the authors strategically review research that reflects the prevalence of these issues in countries around the world but also concentrate on how mental health concerns among SGM children and youth are shaped by experiences with schools, families, and communities. Promising mental health treatment strategies for this population are reviewed. The chapter ends with a focus on understudied areas in the SGM youth mental health literature, which may offer promising solutions to combat SGM population health disparities and promote mental health among SGM young people during adolescence and as they age across the life course.

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