Social Determinants of Mental Health in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Across Florida One Year After COVID-19 Shutdown: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased mental health concerns among adolescent and emerging adults, and sexual and gender minority youth are vulnerable for elevated mental health symptoms and social determinants of health

The purpose of the current study was to describe relationships of social determinants of health domains and mental health outcomes in sexual and gender minority (SG) youth across Florida after the COVID-19 shut down.

Youth advisors chose measures and developed items in collaboration with academic partners. A Florida-geofenced digital marketing campaign recruited SGM youth (ages 15-29) via social media advertisements between May and December 2021. Measures included self-report of demographics and several social determinants of health and validated mental health screeners for depression, anxiety and trauma symptoms.

Youth showed high levels of mental heatlh symptoms, especially in the domain of traumaa. Multiple logistic regression showed that food insecurity and being evicted in the past 5 years were associated with increased odds of having symptoms in all three models. Having an unmet healthcare need, past mistreatment by a provider and employment status were all associated with PTSD, and not having health insurance was associated with anxiety symptoms.

A statewide survey of SGM youth across Florida approximately one year after COVID-19 shutdown revealed a high prevalence of mental health concerns. Two domains of social determinants of health were consistently related to elevated symptoms, feeling mistreated by a health care provider and having food insecurity. Interventions that address provider training and navigation models to mitigate social determinants are warranted.

Not a clinical trial.