The association of resilience, perceived stress and predictors of depressive symptoms in sexual and gender minority youths and adults

Abstract

Research in the sexual and gender minority population (SGM) tends to focus on describing risk factors for negative health outcomes and identification of stressors, which tend to be higher in this population compared to the non-SGM (i.e., mainstream heterosexual) population. This study examines the intersection between perceived stress and resilience associated with self-reported depressive symptoms using standardised instruments, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), among SGM adults (n = 3017) and youths (n = 232). A higher proportion of SGM individuals are stressed and report depressive symptoms compared to non-SGM individuals, whereas the mean resilience scores were similar to the general population. For SGM adults, but not youths, we found an association between lower resilience scores and higher perceived stress scores. SGM adults who had a ‘higher’ depressive symptom score (PHQ-2 ≥ 3) were more likely to have a lower resilience score, a higher stress score, be unemployed or disabled, and less likely to have attended some college or graduated from college. For SGM youth, higher stress and lower resilience scores were associated with ‘higher’ depressive symptom score (PHQ-2 ≥ 3). Our findings suggest that resilience-based prevention and treatment approaches to depression may serve to mitigate the effect of stress in SGM individuals.

Keywords:

• LGBT
• sexual and gender minorities
• stress
• resilience
• depression

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Missouri Foundation for Health [grant number 11-0439-TRD-11]. None of the authors have any financial interest or benefit from this research.

Notes on contributors

Jane A. McElroy

Jane A. McElroy, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Missouri, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Dr McElroy is an epidemiologist with two research tracks. One focuses on health disparity, which includes sexual and gender minority research, and the other focuses on environmental exposure, such as cadmium and health risks.

Jenna J. Wintemberg

Jenna J. Wintemberg (MPH, CHES) is a PhD student in Health Education. She is an instructor at the University of Missouri, Department of Health Sciences. Her research interests include sexual and gender minority (SGM) tobacco use and cessation, SGM health disparities, adolescent tobacco cessation, and the health effects of smoke-free policies.

Nikole J. Cronk

Nikole J. Cronk, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Associate Teaching Professor in Family & Community Medicine at the University of Missouri. She has worked with a wide variety of mental and behavioural health issues including depression, anxiety, and addictions. Her research interests have focused more recently on the role of motivational interviewing in health care.

Kevin D. Everett

Kevin D. Everett, PhD, is a psychologist and associate professor in Family & Community Medicine at the University of Missouri. His research interests include understanding processes of health behavior change, particularly interventions to reduce harm caused by tobacco use. This includes interventions at the individual, group, organization, and community level.