Kimberly J Mitchell1, Michele L Ybarra2, Victoria Banyard3, Kimberly L Goodman4, Lisa M Jones1. 1. Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA. 2. Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente, California, USA. 3. School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. 4. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Abstract
Purpose: The study purpose was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic may be differentially impacting the well-being of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth compared with their non-SGM counterparts. Specifically, we looked at perceptions of mental and physical health impact and relevant aspects of coping with the pandemic such as engagement in prosocial activities that might ultimately promote resilience. Methods: Survey data were collected between November 27, 2020, and December 11, 2020, from 990 adolescents and emerging adults aged 13-23 years. Participants were recruited through advertisements on Facebook and Instagram with an effort to overrecruit SGM youth. Questions asked youth about their perception of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health, the types of prosocial activities engaged in during the pandemic, and how they felt they were doing now versus before the pandemic. Results: SGM youth reported a significantly greater impact from the pandemic than non-SGM youth. Both SGM youth and cisgender heterosexual females reported greater impact on their mental health compared with cisgender heterosexual males, with cisgender sexual minority females and gender minority youth reporting the highest mental health impact. Gender minority youth also reported feeling less connected to their families and less safe at home as a result of the pandemic. Conclusion: Health professionals, educators, and advocates need to help assess SGM youth for negative impact from the pandemic and help them connect with other youth and support resources online as they move forward. Youth may also benefit from programs connecting them to volunteer work and neighbors.
Purpose: The study purpose was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic may be differentially impacting the well-being of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth compared with their non-SGM counterparts. Specifically, we looked at perceptions of mental and physical health impact and relevant aspects of coping with the pandemic such as engagement in prosocial activities that might ultimately promote resilience. Methods: Survey data were collected between November 27, 2020, and December 11, 2020, from 990 adolescents and emerging adults aged 13-23 years. Participants were recruited through advertisements on Facebook and Instagram with an effort to overrecruit SGM youth. Questions asked youth about their perception of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health, the types of prosocial activities engaged in during the pandemic, and how they felt they were doing now versus before the pandemic. Results: SGM youth reported a significantly greater impact from the pandemic than non-SGM youth. Both SGM youth and cisgender heterosexual females reported greater impact on their mental health compared with cisgender heterosexual males, with cisgender sexual minority females and gender minority youth reporting the highest mental health impact. Gender minority youth also reported feeling less connected to their families and less safe at home as a result of the pandemic. Conclusion: Health professionals, educators, and advocates need to help assess SGM youth for negative impact from the pandemic and help them connect with other youth and support resources online as they move forward. Youth may also benefit from programs connecting them to volunteer work and neighbors.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; gender minority; health; sexual minority; well-being; youth
Authors: Nicole Sitkin Zelin; John Encandela; Timothy Van Deusen; Ada M Fenick; Li Qin; Jaideep S Talwalkar Journal: Clin Pediatr (Phila) Date: 2019-05-25 Impact factor: 1.168
Authors: Kimberly H McManama O'Brien; Jennifer M Putney; Nicholas W Hebert; Amy M Falk; Laika D Aguinaldo Journal: LGBT Health Date: 2016-06-27 Impact factor: 4.151
Authors: Jessica N Fish; John Salerno; Natasha D Williams; R Gordon Rinderknecht; Kelsey J Drotning; Liana Sayer; Long Doan Journal: LGBT Health Date: 2021-04-21 Impact factor: 5.150
Authors: Jessica N Fish; Lauren B McInroy; Megan S Paceley; Natasha D Williams; Sara Henderson; Deborah S Levine; Rachel N Edsall Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2020-06-23 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Sélim Benjamin Guessoum; Jonathan Lachal; Rahmeth Radjack; Emilie Carretier; Sevan Minassian; Laelia Benoit; Marie Rose Moro Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2020-06-29 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Michele P Andrasik; Alika K Maunakea; Linda Oseso; Carlos E Rodriguez-Diaz; Stephaun Wallace; Karina Walters; Michi Yukawa Journal: Infect Dis Clin North Am Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 5.905
Authors: Marc Eric S Reyes; Alyzza Meynell D Escote; Antonia Veronica C Ferrer; Judith Kate O Marpuri; Anna Clarissa D R Santos; Rubertha Francesca E Torres; Ryan Francis O Cayubit; Jeemon Rey A Bacaoco Journal: Curr Psychol Date: 2022-08-08
Authors: Edward J Alessi; Shannon P Cheung; Vincent Sarna; Michael P Dentato; Andrew Eaton; Shelley L Craig Journal: Stress Health Date: 2022-09-07 Impact factor: 3.454