Prevalence and correlates of mental health difficulties amongst LGBTQ people in Southeast Asia: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction

No study to date has reviewed the evidence base concerning prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidality amongst LGBTQ people in Southeast Asia.

Method

We carried out a systematic review of quantitative articles (n = 25) identified through electronic databases.

Result

Heightened prevalence of mental health difficulties and minority stressors were found amongst Southeast Asian LGBTQ people which included significant effect size differences relative to cisgender and heterosexual people.

Conclusion

This review underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of minority stressors and protective factors to inform mental health prevention efforts.

Keywords:

• Minority stress
• Southeast Asia
• mental health
• discrimination
• LGBTQ

Ethics statement

There is no ethics statement required for this review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.