The negative impact of COVID-19 on sexual minority young adults: Demographic differences and prospective associations with depression.

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to increases in depression for sexual minority people. However, there has been limited attention to whether its negative impact differs across subgroups of sexual minority people or to whether its negative impact is prospectively associated with increases in depressive symptoms. To address these gaps, the present study examined demographic differences in the negative impact of COVID-19 on sexual minority people and whether the negative impact of COVID-19 was associated with increases in depressive symptoms one- and two-months later. A total of 695 sexual minority young adults completed surveys at three time points (baseline, one-month follow-up, and two-month follow-up). Results indicated that younger age, identifying as transgender/gender diverse or as a cisgender woman, and being a full-time student were associated with being more negatively impacted by the pandemic. Furthermore, the negative impact of COVID-19 was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at the two-month follow-up. However, this became nonsignificant after adjusting for baseline levels of depressive symptoms, likely due to its strong association with subsequent levels. Findings provide preliminary support for within-group heterogeneity in the negative impact of COVID-19 on sexual minority people and for the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Significance Statement-Among sexual minority people, certain groups (e.g., transgender/gender diverse, cisgender women, full-time students) have experienced a greater negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic than others, and being negatively impacted by the pandemic is associated with worse mental health. Policies and interventions should prioritize minimizing the negative effects of the pandemic on the groups that are most negatively affected. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)