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Strategies for Coping with Minority Stress among Queer Young Adults: Usage Frequency, Associations with Demographics, and Mental Health

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  • Yinuo Xu

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • William J. Hall

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • McRae Scott

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Yutong Gao

    (School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • Pin-Chen Chiang

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Denise Yookong Williams

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Ankur Srivastava

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Magdelene E. Ramon

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Adam R. Englert

    (School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Queer young adults report significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than their heterosexual counterparts, which is linked to sexual minority stress. Therefore, it is important to understand the coping strategies employed by this population to navigate minority stress and how coping strategies may impact mental health outcomes. Drawing from a U.S. national diverse sample of 387 queer young adults (ages 18–39 years), we analyzed descriptive results of 11 behavioral strategies to cope with minority stress and used ordered logistic and linear regression to examine the following objectives: the frequency of the use of each coping strategy, and the associations between each strategy and demographic characteristics as well as depression and anxiety. Results revealed that avoidance and talking with friends were the most frequently utilized coping strategies, while prayer/religious activities and counseling/psychotherapy/support groups were infrequently used. We examined utilization preferences of coping strategies across demographic factors (e.g., assigned sex at birth and sexual orientation). The use of counseling/psychotherapy/support group was positively associated with mental health symptoms, while exercise and mindfulness/mediation were associated with lower mental health symptoms. Our findings provide insights for mental health researchers and professionals in selecting appropriate coping strategies for queer young adults in prevention and intervention efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Yinuo Xu & William J. Hall & McRae Scott & Yutong Gao & Pin-Chen Chiang & Denise Yookong Williams & Ankur Srivastava & Magdelene E. Ramon & Adam R. Englert, 2024. "Strategies for Coping with Minority Stress among Queer Young Adults: Usage Frequency, Associations with Demographics, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:8:p:1052-:d:1453821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mathijs F. G. Lucassen & Alicia Núñez-García & Katharine A. Rimes & Louise M. Wallace & Katherine E. Brown & Rajvinder Samra, 2022. "Coping Strategies to Enhance the Mental Wellbeing of Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-29, July.
    2. Blank, M.B. & Mahmood, M. & Fox, J.C. & Guterbock, T., 2002. "Alternative mental health services: The role of the Black church in the South," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(10), pages 1668-1672.
    3. Kevin E. Levay & Jeremy Freese & James N. Druckman, 2016. "The Demographic and Political Composition of Mechanical Turk Samples," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(1), pages 21582440166, March.
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