Abstract
Background: Evidence highlighted the likelihood of unmet mental health needs (UMHNs) among LGBTQ+ than non-LGBTQ+ populations during COVID-19. However, there lacks evidence to accurately answer to what extent the gap was in UMHN between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ populations. We aim to evaluate the difference in UMHN between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ during COVID-19.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from Household Pulse Survey between 21 July 2021 and 9 May 2022 were analyzed. LGBTQ+ was defined based on self-reported sex at birth, gender, and sexual orientation identity. UMHN was assessed by a self-reported question. Multivariable logistic regressions generated adjusted odds ratios (AODs) of UMHN, both on overall and subgroups, controlling for a variety of socio-demographic and economic-affordability confounders.
Findings: 81267 LGBTQ+ and 722638 non-LGBTQ+ were studied. The difference in UMHN between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ (as reference) varied from 4.9% (95% CI 1.2–8.7%) in Hawaii to 16.0% (95% CI 12.2–19.7%) in Utah. In multivariable models, compared with non-LGBTQ+ populations, LGBTQ+ had a higher likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 2.18–2.39), with the highest likelihood identified in transgender (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI 2.97–4.39); compared with LGBTQ+ aged 65+, LGBTQ+ aged 18–25 had a higher likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.03–1.75); compared with White LGBTQ+ populations, Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ had a lower likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.82; AOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.97, respectively).
Interpretation: During the COVID-19, LGBTQ+ had a substantial additional risk of UMHN than non-LGBTQ+. Disparities among age groups, subtypes of LGBTQ+, and geographic variance were also identified.
© 2022 Chen, Wang, She, Qin and Ming.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from Household Pulse Survey between 21 July 2021 and 9 May 2022 were analyzed. LGBTQ+ was defined based on self-reported sex at birth, gender, and sexual orientation identity. UMHN was assessed by a self-reported question. Multivariable logistic regressions generated adjusted odds ratios (AODs) of UMHN, both on overall and subgroups, controlling for a variety of socio-demographic and economic-affordability confounders.
Findings: 81267 LGBTQ+ and 722638 non-LGBTQ+ were studied. The difference in UMHN between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ (as reference) varied from 4.9% (95% CI 1.2–8.7%) in Hawaii to 16.0% (95% CI 12.2–19.7%) in Utah. In multivariable models, compared with non-LGBTQ+ populations, LGBTQ+ had a higher likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 2.18–2.39), with the highest likelihood identified in transgender (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI 2.97–4.39); compared with LGBTQ+ aged 65+, LGBTQ+ aged 18–25 had a higher likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.03–1.75); compared with White LGBTQ+ populations, Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ had a lower likelihood to report UMHN (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.82; AOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.97, respectively).
Interpretation: During the COVID-19, LGBTQ+ had a substantial additional risk of UMHN than non-LGBTQ+. Disparities among age groups, subtypes of LGBTQ+, and geographic variance were also identified.
© 2022 Chen, Wang, She, Qin and Ming.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 995466 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Volume | 9 |
| Online published | 8 Nov 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Research Keywords
- COVID-19
- disparity
- LGBTQ+
- unmet mental health needs
- US
Publisher's Copyright Statement
- This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/