Anxiety, COVID-19 risk, and LGBTQ+ youth’s participation in an affirming summer camp

Abstract

Rising levels of generalized anxiety among LGBTQ+ youth during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic suggest a need for understanding effective interventions for reducing anxiety, as well as factors influencing youth’s risk perceptions and trust pertaining to mental health-focused programming. The current survey-based study captures generalized anxiety, COVID-19 risk perceptions, and trust in a camp organization among 181 youth ages 12 to 18 who participated in an overnight camp for young LGBTQ+ people. Results show that youths’ perceived risk pertaining to COVID-19 at camp was negatively associated with trust in the camp organization and positively associated with generalized anxiety. Participants’ anxiety decreased during camp, and changes in anxiety were influenced by trust in the camp. Findings suggest the importance of trust in engaging LGBTQ+ youth with supportive group programming in the pandemic context, but they also indicate the potential limits of trust in fostering anxiety reduction over time.

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• risk
• COVID-19
• LGBTQ+
• youth

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Traci K. Gillig

Traci K. Gillig (2019, University of Southern California) is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Her research interests are in the psychological, social, and structural factors influencing the mental health of youth from marginalized groups. Her work includes examining the effects of interventions, media representations, interpersonal relationships, and the built environment on youth, as well as the effects of mediated representations of marginalized groups on the attitudes of broader audiences. Recent projects have been published in leading journals such as Sex Roles, Human Communication Research, and the International Journal of Communication. Gillig’s research has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and other major outlets.

Alicia Booth

Alicia Booth (2022, Washington State University) is an instructor at Utah Tech University. She researches stereotypes and their role in body image, objectification and mental health.

Leticia Couto

Leti Couto (2018 University of Kansas) is a doctoral student at Washington State University. Her research interests are sports media, gender, sexual violence, and entertainment education.