Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health among LGBTQ plus Young Adults: A Cross-Cultural Comparison across Six Nations

Across the world, people have seen their lives interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an online survey, we explored how the psychosocial effects of the pandemic affected the mental health of LGBTQ+ young adults who were confined with their parents during the lockdown period (N = 1,934), from six countries: Portugal, UK, Italy, Brazil, Chile, and Sweden. South American participants experienced more negative psychosocial effects of the pandemic. Depression and anxiety were higher among participants who were younger, not working, living in Europe and who reported feeling more emotionally affected by the pandemic, uncomfortable at home, or isolated from non-LGBTQ friends. Not attending higher education predicted depression while not being totally confined at home, residing habitually with parents, and fearing more future infection predicted anxiety. LGBTQ+ community groups, as well as health and educational services should remain particularly attentive to the needs of LGBTQ+ young adults during health crises.

Automated summary

The study found that LGBTQ+ young adults confined with their parents during the lockdown period in different countries experienced different levels of negative psychosocial effects of the pandemic, with South American participants reporting more. Factors such as age, employment status, geographical location, emotional impact of the pandemic, comfort level at home, and isolation from non-LGBTQ friends were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. This suggests that LGBTQ+ community groups, as well as health and educational services, need to pay special attention to the needs of LGBTQ+ young adults during health crises.