Piling it on: Perceived stress and lack of access to resources among US-based LGBTQ+ community members during the COVID-19 pandemic

Brooke A Levandowski; Susan B Miller; Davy Ran; Eva A Pressman; Timothy Van der Dye

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0271162

Piling it on: Perceived stress and lack of access to resources among US-based LGBTQ+ community members during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 8;17(7):e0271162. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271162. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Brooke A Levandowski¹, Susan B Miller¹, Davy Ran², Eva A Pressman¹, Timothy Van der Dye¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
² Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States of America.

Abstract

Objectives: While the LGBTQ+ community has been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 medical complications, little research has considered non-medical impact.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analyses of USA-based respondents from a global cross-sectional online mixed-methods survey collecting sexual orientation, gender identity, and the perceived stress scale (PSS). Bivariate and multivariate ordinal regression statistics were performed.

Results: Fourteen percent (n = 193,14.2%) identified as LGBTQ+. Variables significantly associated with LGBTQ+ included: COVID testing/treatment affordability, canceled activities, stocking food/medications, quitting job, lost income, and inability to procure groceries/cleaning supplies/medications. Adjusting for Hispanic ethnicity and income, BIPOC LGBTQ+ individuals had twice the odds (OR:2.02;95%CI:1.16-3.53) of moderate compared to low PSS scores, and high compared to moderate PSS scores, compared to white non-LGBTQ+ individuals. Adjusting for Hispanic ethnicity, income, age, and education, deaf LGBTQ+ individuals had twice the odds (OR:2.00;95%CI:1.12-3.61) of moderate compared to low PSS scores, and high compared to moderate PSS scores, compared to hearing non-LGBTQ+ individuals.

Conclusion: The LBGTQ+ community has increased stress due to COVID-19. Public health interventions must mitigate stress in BIPOC and deaf LGBTQ+ communities, addressing their intersectional experiences.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Gender Identity
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Sexual and Gender Minorities*
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This work was funded by The Richard W. & Mae Stone Goode Foundation (https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=GOOD013#contact), Award # 057843-002 to TD. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.