Mental health problems in a Swedish LGBTI population and the social determinants of health: Differences in depressive symptoms and its relations to sociodemographic factors
2023 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The aim of this study was to investigate potential mental health disparities in terms of self-rated depressive symptoms in between groups of LGBTI populations in Sweden and whether age, household income and long-standing illness could explain the possible differences. METHOD: A quantitative study with cross-sectional design was performed among the participants of the EU-LGBTI-II study (n = 2502) in a non-probability sample. Depression symptoms were measured by “Have you been feeling downhearted or depressed over the last two weeks?” and dichotomized into “depressive symptoms” and “no depressive symptoms” through the sample median value. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for household income, age and chronic illness. RESULTS: Prevalence of depressive symptoms was highest among trans (59.8%) and intersex individuals (58.3%) and lowest among gay (30.8%). Associations between sociodemographic factors and both LGBTI subgroups and depressive symptoms were also found. In the model, odds of having depressive symptoms were higher in Trans and Intersex (OR=1.76, 95CI 1.32-2.34) and lower in Gay individuals (OR=0.75, CI 0.57-0.99) as compared to lesbians (reference group). There was no statistically significant difference in depressive symptoms between bisexuals and lesbians. DISCUSSION: Depressive symptoms were more common among trans and intersex people. The results are mostly aligned with previous research of LGBTI mental health.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2023. , p. 33
Keywords [en]
depression, mental health, LGBTI, Intersectionality, Minority stress, Public health, Sweden
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-62987OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-62987DiVA, id: diva2:1764468
Subject / course
Science of Public Health
Presentation
2023-05-23, U2-158, Universitetsplan 1, 722 20, Västerås, 16:17 (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-06-092023-06-082023-06-09Bibliographically approved