Well-Being Disparities between LGBPQ Individuals and Heterosexual Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Counselors

Abstract

Existing surveillance measures for COVID-19 often do not collect sexual orientation information, which limits our knowledge about the specific mental health concerns experienced by LGBPQ individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined differences in well-being and psychological distress between LGBPQ and heterosexual individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as measured by the depression, anxiety, and stress scale and the mental health continuum-short form. A MANOVA revealed higher psychological distress and lower social, emotional, and psychological well-being in LGBPQ participants. Follow-up discriminant analyses revealed psychological well-being to be the strongest predictor of group membership.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• COVID-19
• LGBPQ
• mental health
• minority stress