Date of Award

2025-08-01

Degree Name

M.P.H.

Department

Public Health

Advisor(s)

Oralia Loza

Abstract

BACKGROUND: LGBTQ youth face unique challenges and experiences that can significantly impact their mental well-being. Discrimination, stigma, prejudice, and struggle for self-acceptance contribute to increased rates of mental health issues within this population. Almost one in 8 people, or 970 million individuals worldwide, were living with a mental disorder. PURPOSE: Assess the relationship between discrimination and victimization and mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in the Paso del Norte Region. METHODS: Data was collected through a cross-sectional needs assessment survey among adult LGBTQ+ community members or parents/guardians of LGBTQ+ children/youth living in New Mexico or Texas in 2023-2024. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations between mental health outcomes with discrimination and victimization were determined using appropriate statistical methods using SPSS Version 29.0. Adjusted analyses were controlled for Mexican/Mexican-American/Chicano ethnicity, White/Caucasian race, and living in a Texas border county. RESULTS: Median age was 38.0 years old, 65.0% identified as Hispanic, the majority were assigned female at birth (64.6%), and half (50%) identified as women. The most prevalent sexual orientation was queer (45%), followed by gay (31.3%). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) indicated that 32.5% of participants had depression and 40.0% had anxiety in the past two weeks. After adjustment, median (Q1, Q3) scores for mean discrimination (0.4 (0, 1.2)) and total discrimination (1 (0, 4)) were both scores were higher for those with depression (p-value<0.001 and p-value=0.0031), respectively) while statistically significantly lower (p-value=0.027) and not significant (p-value=0.118) for those with anxiety, respectively. After adjustment, median scores for mean victimization (0 (0, 5)) and total score (0 (1, 0)) indicated low levels of victimization; those with depression had higher scores (p-value=0.095 and p-value=0.301, respectively) anxiety (p-value=0.175 and p-value=0.345, respectively) but not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Discrimination scores were higher for those experiencing depression and anxiety; however, victimization scores were similar.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

65 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Perla Gisel Mercado

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