Perceived Stress Levels among Ukrainian Migrant and LGBT+ Minorities in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tomasz Michalski, Maciej Brosz, Joanna Stepien, Karolina Biernacka, Michal Blaszczyk and Jakub Grabowski
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Tomasz Michalski: Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Social Science, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
Maciej Brosz: Institute of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
Joanna Stepien: Department of Socio-Economic Geography, Faculty of Social Science, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
Karolina Biernacka: Adult Psychiatry Scientific Circle, Division of Developmental Psychiatry, Psychotic and Geriatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
Michal Blaszczyk: Adult Psychiatry Scientific Circle, Division of Developmental Psychiatry, Psychotic and Geriatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
Jakub Grabowski: Division of Developmental Psychiatry, Psychotic and Geriatric Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, immigrant status and being a member of the LGBT+ community are all independent factors associated with increased stress levels. Few studies provide more complex analysis on this issue, and there has been no research on the cumulative burden of perceived stress that people belonging to both minorities experience in the current epidemiological situation. The aim of this study was to assess the ability to deal with an external situation during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in the following groups with different stress levels (total sample n = 370): Polish heterosexual men ( n = 202), heterosexual men from Ukraine ( n = 131) and homo- and bisexual men (men who have sex with men—MSM) from Ukraine ( n = 37). A Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used. The analysis of the survey did not show statistically significant differences between the three study groups in the general level of perceived stress (24.71, 24.77 and 26.49 points, respectively, p = 0.551), but it revealed numerous differences in coping with various aspects of everyday functioning between these groups. Negative assessment of one’s own health proved to be the main factor negatively affecting the level of perceived stress, however specific health risks, medical history or the participants’ previous experience have not been taken into account in the study. Our research shows differences in the needs, resources and methods of coping with stress between men who are Polish citizens and migrants from Ukraine, both heterosexual and belonging to the MSM group. Proper identification and addressing of these needs, taking into account different availability of health services, could be the responsibility of NGOs or insurance providers. This should result in the reduction of mental health burdens and the risk of developing serious mental disorders, and consequently in better functioning of persons belonging to minorities and in a reduced burden on the health care system.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; mental health; depression; stigma; sexual and gender minorities; men who have sex with men; homosexuals; bisexuals; transients; migrant workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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