Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 May;73(5):2036-2045.
doi: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2510692. Epub 2025 Jun 5.

Examining associations between protective factors, distal minority stress, substance use, and mental health in LGBTQ+ postsecondary students

Kalina M L Fahey  1 , Alexandra Uhrig  2 , Stephanie Penta  2 , Karla Kovacek  2 , Sarah S Dermody  2
Affiliations

Examining associations between protective factors, distal minority stress, substance use, and mental health in LGBTQ+ postsecondary students

Kalina M L Fahey et al. J Am Coll Health. 2025 May.

Abstract

Objective: The current study examined constructs that may buffer effects of minority stress on substance use and mental health in LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+) postsecondary students. Participants: Online survey data from 435 LGBTQ+ college students throughout Oregon were used. Methods: Structural equation models examining distal minority stress, belonging/support, and their interaction as predictors of substance use (alcohol, cannabis, cigarette, and e-cigarette use) and past 30-day psychological distress in separate models. Results: The only identified significant interaction was between institutional belonging and distal minority stress for the distress outcome, suggesting higher levels of institutional belonging buffered the associations between distal minority stress and distress. Distal minority stress was associated with higher distress scores, and family support and friend support were associated with lower distress scores. Conclusions: Findings highlight how interventions or policies to improve campus climate and social support for LGBTQ+ students could confer benefits to LGBTQ+ students' wellbeing.

Keywords: College; LGBTQ+; mental health; minority stress; social support; substance use.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2021. American College Health Association; 2022.
    1. Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55(5):469–480. doi: 10.1037/0003-066x.55.5.469 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Acharya L, Jin L, Collins W. College life is stressful today - Emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students. J Am Coll Health. 2018;66(7):655–664. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1451869 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pedrelli P, Nyer M, Yeung A, Zulauf C, Wilens T. College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations. Acad Psychiatry. 2015;39(5):503–511. doi: 10.1007/s40596-014-0205-9 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bruffaerts R, Mortier P, Kiekens G, et al. Mental health problems in college freshmen: Prevalence and academic functioning. J Affect Disord. 2018;225:97–103. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.044 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

MeSH terms