Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand mental health monitor

Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand mental health monitor

Issues addressed: To examine the mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse and takatapui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Metho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion journal of Australia Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 580 - 589
Main Authors: Tan, Kyle K. H., Wilson, Adelaide B., Flett, Jayde A. M., Stevenson, Brendan S., Veale, Jaimie F.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: West Perth, WA Australian Health Promotion Association 01-07-2022
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects:
Anxiety
Bisexuality
Cisgender
Evaluation
Families & family life
Family support
Gender
gender diverse
Health care
Health care industry
Health disparities
health equity
Health services
Heterosexuality
Inequality
Lesbianism
Linear analysis
Medical personnel
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health services
Methodology
New Zealand
Policy making
Protective factors
Psychological distress
Regression analysis
Sex
Sexuality
sexuality diverse
Social exclusion
Social interactions
Social isolation
Statistical analysis
Suicide
New Zealand
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Summary:Issues addressed: To examine the mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse and takatapui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Methods: We employed data from the pooled probability sample of 2016 and 2018 New Zealand Mental Health Monitor. The sample comprised of 2938 people at least 15 years old, of which 93 had diverse gender and sexuality identities. Generalised linear models were used to test for differences in mental health (current and lifetime mental distress, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide), social exclusion and isolation, and friend and family support for people of diverse genders and sexualities. We also conducted exploratory linear regression analyses to examine whether mental health difficulties were associated with social exclusion and isolation and friend/family support. Results: People of diverse genders and sexualities had high rates of mental health difficulties across all variables we examined. For example, people identifying as diverse genders and sexualities had three times the risk of considering self-harm and suicide than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (22% vs 5%; RR = 3.12). People of diverse genders and sexualities also scored an average of 6.08 points higher on the 27-point PHQ-9 depression scale when they had experienced social isolation, and 4.01 points higher when they experienced social exclusion. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with current literature on the large mental health inequities faced by people of diverse genders and sexualities. So what? Policy makers and health care providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider the negative mental health consequences of social exclusion and isolation for people of diverse genders and sexualities.
Bibliography:Health Promotion Journal of Australia: Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, Vol. 33, No. 3, Jul 2022, 580-589
Informit, Melbourne (Vic)
Handling Editor
Jeannine Stairmand
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1036-1073
2201-1617
DOI:10.1002/hpja.543