Did the Orlando shooting at Pulse Nightclub affect sexual minority mental health? Results and challenges using population-based data

Abstract

Purpose of the study Forty-nine people were killed in the Orlando shooting at Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the Orlando shooting and sexual minority mental health. Materials and methods We used data from the 2013–2018 National Health Interview Survey and a difference-in-differences approach to compare changes in severe psychological distress (SPD) between sexual minorities and their heterosexual peers. Results Compared to heterosexual men, the Orlando shooting was associated with a 25.6 percentage point (p < 0.05) increase in SPD for sexual minority men in June 2016. We did not observe a similar pattern of heightened SPD for sexual minority women following the Orlando shooting. Conclusion This study suggests that the Orlando shooting was detrimental to the mental health of sexual minority men.