Experiences of COVID‐19 pandemic‐related stress among sexual and gender minority emerging adult migrants in the United State
Alessi, E. J., Cheung, S. P., Sarna, V., Dentato, M. P., Eaton, A., & Craig, S. L. (2022). Experiences of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress among sexual and gender minority emerging adult migrants in the United States. Stress and Health. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3198.
Highlights
Background
· While many sexual and gender minority (SGM) migrants flee their homes for searching safety and protection, they may still encounter violence and inequality in their new residence, including in the United States (Alessi et al., 2021; Golembe et al., 2021).
· Research on SGM emerging adult migrants is limited, especially in the context of COVID‐19, which has increased stress and isolation for marginalized communities (Kantameni, 2020; Fish et al., 2020; Scroggs et al., 2021).
· The pandemic may have been especially impactful for SGM migrants because of their intersecting vulnerabilities
Study Description
· Three research questions served as the direction for this study: (a) How did COVID-19 shape SGM emerging adult migrants' day-to-day experiences in the United States?; (b) How do SGM emerging adult migrants describe and understand the psychosocial distress they experienced?; and (c) How did ICTs affect these people during the pandemic?
· 37 semi‐structured interviews with participants aged 20–25 years old and who migrated to different parts of the United States in the last 5 years explored how the intersection of emerging adulthood, SGM identity, and migrant status influenced the pandemic experiences of SGM individuals. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Key Findings
This qualitative study identified four themes to demonstrate the intersectional forms of stress that individuals experienced throughout the pandemic and the ways they displayed strength:
· Dealing with anxiety and uncertainty related to COVID‐19 job loss and insecurity
Many participants believed that migrating would give them the chance to live independently of their family. However, precarious labor situations put their ability to support themselves financially in jeopardy, creating confusion and anxiety.
· Navigating the risks of in‐person work during COVID‐19
As participants could not rely on their parents or others for financial support, they had to uncomfortably continue working face-to-face, often operating on limited information about the risks associated with exposure to the Coronavirus. Participants making efforts to protect themselves were still at risk of getting infected because their coworkers did not always follow health and safety procedures.
· Contending with loneliness, fear, and anxiety during COVID‐19
The isolation in the COVID‐19 quarantine intensified participants' loneliness, fear, and anxiety, which were already experienced in their home countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Gender dysphoria, current mental health conditions, and uncertain immigration status all interacted negatively with these pandemic-related experiences for the worse.
· Using online communication to manage social isolation during COVID‐19
ICTs enabled participants to maintain social ties and make new connections during quarantine, which reduced feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression and built resilience. However, one disadvantage was ‘doom scrolling’, constantly reading about and hearing negative news, which contributed to anxiety.
