Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated several existing health disparities in the U.S. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) health disparities may also be widening during the pandemic, though few studies have assessed this question. This study examined SGM young adult disparities in health-related behaviors to cope with isolation during the pandemic.

Methods

Respondents from a prospective cohort of Southern California young adults (N = 2,298) reported whether they engaged in various strategies (e.g., substance use, diet, exercise, relaxation) to cope with isolation during the pandemic (each: yes/no). Differences in coping were assessed across five SGM subgroups: heterosexual men and women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer (LGBQ) men and women, transgender/nonbinary (TNB) respondents. Negative binomial regressions estimated sexual/gender identity differences in the number of positive or negative behaviors endorsed, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and prepandemic health behaviors. Differences were also tested across individual coping behaviors.

Results

Heterosexual women (IRR = 1.11 [1.01–1.21]), LGBQ men (IRR = 1.31 [1.12–1.54]), LGBQ women (IRR = 1.33 [1.19–1.49]), and TNB respondents (IRR = 1.29 [1.03–1.61]) engaged in more negative coping behaviors than heterosexual men. LGBQ men (IRR = 1.19 [1.02–1.39]) and LGBQ women (IRR = 1.20 [1.08–1.34]) also reported more negative coping behaviors versus heterosexual women. Generally, LGBQ men reported the highest prevalence of substance use, while LGBQ women and TNB reported the highest prevalence of adverse eating behaviors and self-harm.

Conclusions

SGM young adults may be disproportionately, adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tailored public health and clinical interventions are needed to decrease pandemic-related SGM health disparities.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间的性和性别少数青年应对差异

目的

COVID-19 大流行加剧了美国现有的一些健康差异 性和性别少数群体 (SGM) 的健康差异在大流行期间也可能扩大，尽管很少有研究评估这个问题。这项研究检查了 SGM 年轻人在健康相关行为方面的差异，以应对大流行期间的孤立。

方法

来自南加州年轻人的前瞻性队列 (N = 2,298) 的受访者报告了他们是否采取了各种策略（例如，物质使用、饮食、锻炼、放松）来应对大流行期间的隔离（每个：是/否）。对五个 SGM 亚组的应对差异进行了评估：异性恋男性和女性、女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、泛性恋、酷儿 (LGBQ) 男性和女性、跨性别/非二元 (TNB) 受访者。负二项式回归估计了认可的正面或负面行为数量的性/性别认同差异，并根据社会人口学特征和大流行前健康行为进行了调整。还测试了个体应对行为的差异。

结果

异性恋女性（IRR = 1.11 [1.01-1.21]）、LGBQ 男性（IRR = 1.31 [1.12-1.54]）、LGBQ 女性（IRR = 1.33 [1.19-1.49]）和 TNB 受访者（IRR = 1.29-1.610） ]) 参与比异性恋男性更多的消极应对行为。LGBQ 男性（IRR = 1.19 [1.02-1.39]）和 LGBQ 女性（IRR = 1.20 [1.08-1.34]）也报告了比异性恋女性更多的消极应对行为。一般来说，LGBQ 男性报告的物质使用率最高，而 LGBQ 女性和 TNB 报告的不良饮食行为和自残率最高。

结论

SGM 年轻人可能会受到 COVID-19 大流行的不成比例的不利影响。需要量身定制的公共卫生和临床干预措施，以减少与大流行相关的 SGM 健康差异。