Citation

Goodyear T, Slemon A, Richardson C, Gadermann A, Salway T, Dhari S, Knight R, Jenkins E. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021; 18(22): e12155.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph182212155

PMID

34831910

PMCID

PMC8620284

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, other queer, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2+) people are particularly at risk for the psycho-social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, though population-tailored research within this context remains limited. This study examines the extent of, and associations between, increased alcohol and cannabis use and deteriorating mental health among LGBTQ2+ adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are drawn from LGBTQ2+ respondents to a repeated, cross-sectional survey administered to adults living in Canada (May 2020-January 2021). Bivariate cross-tabulations and multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine associations between increased alcohol and cannabis use, and self-reported mental health, overall coping, and suicidal thoughts. Five-hundred and two LGBTQ2+ participants were included in this analysis. Of these, 24.5% reported increased alcohol use and 18.5% reported increased cannabis use due to the pandemic. In the adjusted analyses, increased alcohol use was associated with poor overall coping (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.28-4.07) and worse self-reported mental health (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.21-3.25), whereas increased cannabis use was associated with suicidal thoughts (OR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.16-4.55). These findings underscore the need for population-tailored, integrated substance use and mental health supports to address interrelated increases in alcohol/cannabis use and worsening mental health among LGBTQ2+ adults, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Female; Canada; survey; mental health; COVID-19; suicide; alcohol; Mental Health; cannabis; Cannabis; public health; substance use; LGBT people; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics