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

Jonah P. DeChants (), Myeshia N. Price, Ronita Nath and Carrie K. Davis
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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

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 12, 1-10

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.

Keywords: LGBTQ youth mental health; COVID-19; COVID-19 loss; suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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