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Sexual orientation concealment, community attitudes contribute to mental health of LGBTQ young adults

PHILADELPHIA — Anxiety and related disorders were significantly more common among sexual minority young adults than heterosexual peers, and stressors such as sexual orientation concealment and community attitudes were associated with disorders, according to data presented here.

“Members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities face greater exposure to violence, discrimination and rejection than heterosexuals. These minority stressors place sexual minorities at risk for anxiety and related disorders,” Jeffrey Cohen, MS, a graduate student of PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, and colleagues wrote.

Jeffrey Cohen

To assess rates and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, PTSD and social anxiety disorder in sexual minority young adults compared with heterosexual peers, researchers conducted two studies.

In the first study, individuals aged 18 to 24 years (n = 3,340) completed self-reports regarding mental health disorders and indicated their sexual orientation and level of sexual orientation concealment.

Findings indicated a significantly higher rate of sexual minority young adults who met diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD, compared with heterosexual individuals.

Sexual minority young women had the highest risk for anxiety disorders.

Concealment of sexual orientation was a significant moderator of the relationship between sexual minority status and social anxiety disorder.

In the second study, an additional cohort of 101 gay and bisexual young men completed measures of rejection sensitivity based on minority status and depression.

Results from the second study indicated a statistically significant community by rejection sensitivity interaction (P = .045). Rejection sensitivity was positively associated with depression in a community less supportive of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals (P = .006), but was not associated with depression in a community that was more supportive of LGBT individuals.

“These findings suggest that rejection sensitivity is a valuable treatment target and that treating the anxious expectation of rejection may reduce symptoms of multiple anxiety disorders,” Cohen told Healio.com/Psychiatry. “These findings suggest that it is important to include sexual orientation as a protected class in non-discrimination laws in order to reduce discrimination and consequently the stress and anxiety experienced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Cohen J, et al. Recognizing risk: Anxiety and depression in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community. Presented at: Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference; March 31-April 3, 2016; Philadelphia.

Disclosure: Cohen reports no relevant financial disclosures.