Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic on U.S. Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented isolation and mental health effects; few studies have characterized this in sexual and gender (SGM) minority young people, a particularly vulnerable population. This cross-sectional study sought to analyze the mental health outcomes of SGM young people (18–30 years) during the early stages of the pandemic in the United States (April 13-June 18, 2020) and explore how factors related to SGM identity impact mental health, such as lifetime discrimination, family support, and pre-existing mental health conditions. An online survey collected socio-demographic information and assessed for both mental health (depression (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), PTSD (PCL-C)) and COVID-19-related outcomes (COVID-19-related worries and COVID-19-related grief). Out of 981 participants, 320 (32.6%) identified as SGM and had significantly higher levels of depression and PTSD symptoms as well as COVID-19-related worries and grief, even after controlling for family support, lifetime discrimination, and pre-existing mental health diagnoses. These findings suggest that not only has COVID-19 disproportionately impacted SGM mental health, but also that minority stress factors cannot fully explain this impact. Thus, clinicians and societal stakeholders (schools, employers, policymakers) must think beyond traditional minority stress factors (family support, discrimination) and pre-pandemic disparities to support this vulnerable population as the pandemic progresses.