Examining the relationship between proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and LGBTQ+ college student mental health: findings from the Healthy Minds Study, 2021-2022.

This study aimed to investigate the association between proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and depressive symptoms among LGBTQ+ college students. Participants ( = 72,135) included LGBTQ+ college students ( = 21,466) from over 530 colleges and universities, including technical and community institutions, across the United States who took part in the Healthy Minds Study (HMS). Data on proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in 2021-2022 were collected from all 50 US states, categorized, and analyzed. Individual-level data for 2021-2022 were obtained from the HMS, and a multilevel analysis was conducted to assess the association between proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and depressive symptoms while considering individual factors. A significant positive association between proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and increased depressive symptoms among LGBTQ+ college students was found. This association remained significant after controlling for individual-level stressors and identities, including a sense of belonging, campus environment perceptions, first-generation student status, and transgender or gender non-conforming identity (TGNC). The findings underscore the need for mental health support and inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ college students, particularly in regions where anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is proposed or enacted, to mitigate the potential negative impact of multiple factors on their mental well-being.