Mental Health and Substance Use Disparities by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among Delaware Youth

To investigate mental health and substance use disparities by sexual orientation and gender identity among Delaware youth.

Data were from the Delaware School Surveys (DSS) administered to 8th and 11th graders (n=17,361; ages 12-17 years old) in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Frequency statistics were used to summarize sexual orientation and gender identity composition, including frequency of youth who were lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other minoritized sexual and gender identities (LGBT+). Using logistic regression, we tested associations between LGBT+ status and odds of reporting psychological distress, anxiety, underage drinking, cigarette smoking, vaping, marijuana use, and prescription drug misuse.

Around one in four (25-26%) Delaware youth identified as LGBT+, including 6-7% of youth who were transgender or nonbinary. Rates of lifetime mental health symptoms and underage substance use were elevated among LGBT+ youth for every health outcome. For 8th grade LGBT+ youth relative to cisgender heterosexual youth, odds were elevated by 269% for psychological distress, 276% for anxiety, 91% for drinking, 141% for cigarette smoking, 121% for vaping, 98% for marijuana use, and 86% for prescription drug misuse. In 11th grade LGBT+ youth relative to cisgender heterosexual youth, odds were elevated by 228% for psychological distress, 240% for anxiety, 33% for drinking, 71% for cigarette smoking, 51% for vaping, 57% for marijuana use, and 70% for prescription drug misuse.

Mental health and substance use disparities between LGBT+ youth and cisgender heterosexual youth highlight an alarming public health crisis in Delaware. With growing numbers of youth identifying as LGBT+ and persistent health disparities, state policy and clinical practice must be attuned to the needs and lived experiences of LGBT+ youth to identify and eliminate drivers of these disparities. Schools, healthcare, and policy provide important avenues for intervention.