The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
Abstract Background Recent studies report that LGBTQ + people have experienced high levels of mental health problems during COVID-19-related social distancing. Given the well-established association between social isolation and mental health, the main aim of the current study was to investigate diff...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01265-5 |
| _version_ | 1797555637678243840 |
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| author | Christine Firk Nicola Großheinrich Norbert Scherbaum Daniel Deimel |
| author_facet | Christine Firk Nicola Großheinrich Norbert Scherbaum Daniel Deimel |
| author_sort | Christine Firk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recent studies report that LGBTQ + people have experienced high levels of mental health problems during COVID-19-related social distancing. Given the well-established association between social isolation and mental health, the main aim of the current study was to investigate differences in mental health and (perceived) social isolation and social support in LGBTQ + individuals compared to heterosexual, cisgender people and to explore whether the hypothesized higher mental health burden in LGBTQ + individuals is (partly) mediated by (perceived) social isolation or social support. Methods N = 531 participants indicating belonging to the LGBTQ + community and N = 1826 not identifying as LGBTQ + participated in a cross-sectional online survey during the initial COVID-19-related lockdown in Germany. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depression, anxiety, suicidality, loneliness and social support. Further, perceived social isolation and face-to-face communication during the lockdown were assessed. Results LGBTQ + people had higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thought, were lonelier and experienced less social support than non-LGBTQ + identifying individuals. Mediation analysis showed that the higher levels of mental health burden in LGBTQ + people were (partly) mediated by reduced social connectedness. Further face-to-face contact positively affected mental health by reducing feelings of loneliness. Conclusion Given the high impact of loneliness on mental health, governmental actions should be taken to promote social connectedness particularly among LGBTQ + identifying individuals to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not exacerbate the health inequalities that already exist between LGBTQ+-identifying and heterosexual, cisgender people. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:50:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa5c0f2abf254df286be3637d557c328 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:50:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa5c0f2abf254df286be3637d557c3282023-11-20T11:20:39ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-08-011111910.1186/s40359-023-01265-5The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in GermanyChristine Firk0Nicola Großheinrich1Norbert Scherbaum2Daniel Deimel3Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine–WestphaliaInstitute of Health Research and Social Psychiatry, Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine–WestphaliaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenCatholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine–WestphaliaAbstract Background Recent studies report that LGBTQ + people have experienced high levels of mental health problems during COVID-19-related social distancing. Given the well-established association between social isolation and mental health, the main aim of the current study was to investigate differences in mental health and (perceived) social isolation and social support in LGBTQ + individuals compared to heterosexual, cisgender people and to explore whether the hypothesized higher mental health burden in LGBTQ + individuals is (partly) mediated by (perceived) social isolation or social support. Methods N = 531 participants indicating belonging to the LGBTQ + community and N = 1826 not identifying as LGBTQ + participated in a cross-sectional online survey during the initial COVID-19-related lockdown in Germany. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depression, anxiety, suicidality, loneliness and social support. Further, perceived social isolation and face-to-face communication during the lockdown were assessed. Results LGBTQ + people had higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thought, were lonelier and experienced less social support than non-LGBTQ + identifying individuals. Mediation analysis showed that the higher levels of mental health burden in LGBTQ + people were (partly) mediated by reduced social connectedness. Further face-to-face contact positively affected mental health by reducing feelings of loneliness. Conclusion Given the high impact of loneliness on mental health, governmental actions should be taken to promote social connectedness particularly among LGBTQ + identifying individuals to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not exacerbate the health inequalities that already exist between LGBTQ+-identifying and heterosexual, cisgender people.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01265-5LGBTQ+; gender identitySexual orientation; COVID-19; mental healthDepressionAnxietySuicidalityLoneliness |
| spellingShingle | Christine Firk Nicola Großheinrich Norbert Scherbaum Daniel Deimel The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany BMC Psychology LGBTQ+; gender identity Sexual orientation; COVID-19; mental health Depression Anxiety Suicidality Loneliness |
| title | The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_full | The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_fullStr | The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_short | The impact of social connectedness on mental health in LGBTQ + identifying individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_sort | impact of social connectedness on mental health in lgbtq identifying individuals during the covid 19 pandemic in germany |
| topic | LGBTQ+; gender identity Sexual orientation; COVID-19; mental health Depression Anxiety Suicidality Loneliness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01265-5 |
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