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Losing a Close Friend or Family Member Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health among LGBTQ Youth

Author

Listed:
  • Jonah P. DeChants

    (The Trevor Project, P.O. Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA)

  • Myeshia N. Price

    (The Trevor Project, P.O. Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA)

  • Ronita Nath

    (The Trevor Project, P.O. Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA)

  • Carrie K. Davis

    (The Trevor Project, P.O. Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA)

Abstract

This study examines the association between having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19 and mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) youth. Data come from 33,993 respondents in the United States, ages 13 to 24, who completed an online survey of LGBTQ youth mental health. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds of recent anxiety, depression, considering, or attempting suicide in the past year based on whether or not the youth reported having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19. Among the full sample, experiences of COVID-19 loss were associated with recent anxiety (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20–1.40), recent depression (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.15, 1.32]), seriously considering suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.14, 1.30)), and attempting suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.41, 1.69)). These findings highlight the urgent need for investment in low-barrier, affirming mental health services for LGBTQ youth who have experienced COVID-19 loss to support their grief, overall mental health, and healthy development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonah P. DeChants & Myeshia N. Price & Ronita Nath & Carrie K. Davis, 2023. "Losing a Close Friend or Family Member Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health among LGBTQ Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6129-:d:1171351
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gertrude R Gauthier & Jeffrey A Smith & Catherine García & Marc A Garcia & Patricia A Thomas & Deborah S Carr, 2021. "Exacerbating Inequalities: Social Networks, Racial/Ethnic Disparities, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States [Social networks among blacks and whites: The interaction between race and age]," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(3), pages 88-92.
    2. Ashton M. Verdery & Emily Smith-Greenaway & Rachel Margolis & Jonathan Daw, 2020. "Tracking the reach of COVID-19 kin loss with a bereavement multiplier applied to the United States," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(30), pages 17695-17701, July.
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