COVID-19 and its impacts on mental health and depressive symptoms in the LGBTQIA+ population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2023.v13.1039Keywords:
Sexual and gender minorities, transgender persons, coronavirus, depression, COVID- 19Abstract
Introduction: When compared to cis-heterosexual individuals, the LGBTQIA+ population demonstrates a higher level of psychological distress due to their minority status. It is believed that depressive symptoms may even have been exacerbated by the extensive social isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of family conflicts. Objective: To investigate the occurrence of depressive symptoms among the LGBTQIA+ population during social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an observational study with LGBTQIA+ individuals, over 18 years old, based on a questionnaire applied remotely, through Google Forms, and in person, at the Psychiatry outpatient clinic of the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital (HUOC), between July 2021 and August 2022. In addition to sociodemographic and Likert-type variables, the Beck Depression Scale (BDI) was applied. Results: A total of 253 individuals participated in the survey. We observed that 28.1% of those who responded to the BDI had mild depression (10–18 points), 23.7% had moderate depression (19–29 points), and 20.9% had severe depression (above 30 points). During the COVID-19 epidemic, it was found that the frequency of family disputes about the participants' sexual orientation or gender identity was substantially linked with the onset of depression symptoms (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Mental health practitioners must consider victimizations associated with sexual and gender minority status in order to provide more compassionate therapies for the LGBTQIA+ population after the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Maria Vitória Silva de Lima, Matheus Duarte Rodrigues, Sofia Oliveira de Souza, Gabrielly Galindo Azevedo Costa, Milena Ferreira de França Alexandre, Sillas Duarte de Melo, Lisieux Elaine de Borba Telles, Alexandre Martins Valença, Antônio Geraldo da Silva
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