Navigating Vulnerability: Understanding Mental Health Disparities Among Young LGBTQ+ Individuals
Type of research: quantitative empirical
Description:
Up to 10% of young people aged 18 to 25 identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or another sexual or gender minority (LGBTQ+). Despite increasing societal recognition, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to experience disproportionately high levels of mental health concerns compared to their heterosexual peers (Bishop et al., 2025; Yarns et al., 2016). These disparities are commonly attributed to stigmatization, reduced safety, and limited psychological resources such as self-esteem and resilience (Huijnk et al., 2021; Tan et al., 2020). Young people are particularly vulnerable: sexual and gender minority youth are more than three times as likely to report unhappiness and symptoms of anxiety and depression as their heterosexual counterparts (Huijnk & van Beusekom, 2021; Williams et al., 2021).
This research project seeks to advance understanding of the factors that contribute to mental health disparities among young LGBTQ+ individuals.