Social Support, Stress and Emotional Symptoms Among LGBTQ plus College Students in Chile

Objective to compare the relationships between emotional symptomatology and perceived social support according to gender identity and sexual orientation in LGBTQ+ university students. Methods 322 Chilean LGBTQ+ college students answered an online survey based on sociodemographic information and validated instruments. Analysis of variance and linear regressions were made. Results Transgender people have more emotional symptoms and stress and less perceived social support from family than the rest of LGBTQ+ students. Depression and anxiety are negatively associated with perceived social support from friends and family. Conclusions Perceived social support decreases emotional symptomatology even when controlling for current stress in LGBTQ+ students.

Automated summary

The study explored the relationships between emotional symptomatology and perceived social support according to gender identity and sexual orientation in LGBTQ+ university students. Transgender individuals showed more emotional symptoms and stress and less perceived social support from family. Depression and anxiety were found to be negatively associated with perceived social support from friends and family. Perceived social support was seen to decrease emotional symptomatology even when controlling for current stress in LGBTQ+ students.