Brief Report: The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Physical, Social, and Mental Health of Black and Latinx Young People With HIV in the United States

Abstract

Background: Whereas national attention has been paid to the ongoing mental health crises among young people triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, less is known about the social, physical and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on young people living with HIV, especially racial/ethnic minorities. Setting: Online survey of participants across the U.S. Method: A national cross-sectional survey of non-Latinx Black and Latinx young adults (18–29) living with HIV. Between April and August 2021, participants answered survey questions about several domains (eg, stress, anxiety, relationships, work, quality of life) that were worsened, improved, or unchanged during the pandemic. We ran a logistic regression estimating the self-reported impact of the pandemic on these domains between 2 age groups (ages 18–24 versus 25–29). Results: The sample size was 231 (186 non-Latinx Black, 45 Latinx) and mainly male (84.4%) and gay identified (62.2%). Nearly 20% of participants were 18–24 years old and 80% were ages 25–29. Participants who were 18–24 years old reported 2–3 times the odds for having worse sleep quality and mood and greater stress, anxiety, and weight gain compared with those 25–29 years old. Conclusion: Our data provide a nuanced picture of the negative impacts that COVID-19 had on non-Latinx Black and Latinx young adults living with HIV in the U.S. Given that these adults represent a priority population for HIV treatment outcomes, it is critical to better understand the ongoing toll that these dual pandemics have on their lives.