LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit

Effects of Psychological Distress and Life Satisfaction on COVID-Related Posttraumatic Stress Among LGBQ+ Adults

Saturday, November 12, 2022

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Poster 8

Author and Presenter(s)

Leo Kattari, MSW

Doctoral Student
Michigan State University
YPSILANTI, Michigan, United States

Co-Author and Presenter(s)

Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan, United States

Overview: This study examines the individual impacts of psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) and life satisfaction on COVID-related posttraumatic stress in an international sample of heterosexual versus LGBQ+ adults. As the healthcare community continues to address the impacts of COVID-19 across the globe, it is imperative to consider LGBQ+ individuals.Proposal text: This study examines the individual impacts of psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) and life satisfaction on COVID-related posttraumatic stress in an international sample of heterosexual versus LGBQ+ adults. Between July-August 2020, a cross-sectional electronic survey (n=2,482) was launched in five countries (India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and United States) assessing sociodemographic characteristics as well as psychological, behavioral, and social factors related to health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant differences between LGBQ+ participants and heterosexual participants were found for depression (p < .001) and anxiety (p < .001). Depression was associated with COVID-related posttraumatic stress among heterosexual participants (p < .001) but not LGBQ+ participants. Both anxiety (p < .001) and life satisfaction (p = .003) were also associated with COVID-related posttraumatic stress in both groups. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated significant effects of COVID-related posttraumatic stress for adults outside the United States (p < .001); less than full-time employment (p = .012); and for greater levels of anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction, respectively (all ps < .001). The impact of sexual minority stress among LGBQ+ may play a role in COVID-related post-traumatic stress. Large-scale global disasters such as pandemics, contribute to disparities in psychological distress among LGBQ+ individual, however, sociodemographic factors such as country and urbanicity may play mediating or moderating roles.

Learning Objectives:

Examine the prevalence of psychological distress, life satisfaction and COVID-related posttraumatic stress stratified by sexual orientation.
Explore sociodemographic characteristics associated with COVID-related posttraumatic stress during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Identify how the findings of this study can be used to address amplified minority stress among LGBQ+ individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in social work practice at micro, mezzo and macro levels.