Psychiatry Res. 2022 Jan 10;309:114391. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114391. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There is a dearth of public health data and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+) populations during the coronavirus (“COVID”) pandemic. This study assessed the impact of COVID on the health, social, and occupational domains of functioning of the LGBTQ+ community. A community survey was distributed via email by local LGBTQ+ community organizations between September and December 2020. Participants (cisgender, heterosexual people, n=63; cisgender sexual minority people, n=184; and gender minority people , n=74) were asked about how COVID has impacted their living situation (i.e. physical health, mental health, financial stability, meeting basic needs and social connections). A multivariate analysis of covariance was tested with these groups, demographic and HIV status variables as independent variables and covariates, and outcomes as dependent variables. Compared to cisgender and heterosexual people, significantly more cisgender sexual minority people reported deterioration in physical health, and significantly more sexual minority people reported deterioration in all outcomes. Significantly more gender minority people reported deteriorating financial stability than cisgender sexual minority people. COVID has contributed to a worsening of living conditions within the LGBTQ+ community, especially for gender minority people. More research is needed to create proactive, equitable, and culturally-focused responses and interventions to pandemics.

PMID:35032764 | DO I:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114391