Differences in mental health symptoms and treatment by sexual orientation and migration background in a population-based sample.

PURPOSE

Although sexual minorities are consistently found to be at excess risk of poor mental health, less is known about the mental health of individuals with dual minority statuses based on sexual orientation and migration background. This study aimed to examine prevalence of and disparities in mental health symptoms and treatment for common mental disorders (CMD) among sexual minority migrants; and to explore the potential mediating role of interpersonal and social stress.

METHODS

Participants were drawn from the Swedish Public Health Survey, 2018. The analytic sample included 104,652 individuals with complete records on all study variables (37.1%). The survey assessed mental health symptoms and interpersonal and social stress and was complemented with information on psychiatric treatment from comprehensive nationwide registries. Using logistic regression and mediation analyses, six groups were compared based on sexual orientation and migration background.

RESULTS

Greater risk of mental health symptoms was found among Swedish-born and non-European sexual minorities (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 2.20, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.89-2.57, and OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.34-3.29, respectively) compared to Swedish-born heterosexuals. Swedish-born sexual minorities were at greater risk of receiving treatment for CMD (OR = 2.58, 95% CI 2.20-3.01), while non-European heterosexuals showed lower risk (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.52-0.72). Perceived discrimination was less common among non-European sexual minorities compared to their Swedish-born counterparts and partially mediated the association between migration background and mental health symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual minority migrants are at greater risk of mental health symptoms compared to Swedish-born heterosexuals but not compared to Swedish-born sexual minorities. Providing mental health care for sexual minorities, including sexual minority migrants, and targeting sexual orientation discrimination, should be a priority.