The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: M = 26.6, SD = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (n = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.
Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, non-binary, bisexual, 30-34 years old, Vietnamese, and income range $50,000-$74,999 had the highest prevalence of both moderate to moderately severe anxiety and depression. Overall, 68.4% of participants reported experiencing at least mild depressive symptoms in the past two weeks and 97.5% reported experiencing at least minimal anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Similarly, participants who were female, nonbinary, bisexual, and 24-29 years old reported the highest prevalence of three or more ACEs. A majority of participants (89.5%) reported experiencing at least one ACE with 44.7% experiencing three or more ACEs. By ACE category, the majority of participants reported ACEs of Household Dysfunction (83.3%), Psychological Abuse (65.8%), and Physical Abuse (39.5%). Overall, 64.1% of this sample reported low to moderate levels of outness about sexual orientation (M = 3.2, SD = 1.3). Participants indicated the highest levels of support for sexual orientation from Siblings (M = 4.6, SD = 2.3), New Straight Friends (M = 4.5, SD = 2.3) and Old Heterosexual Friends (M = 4.4, SD = 2.1); participants reported the least outness and support in the Religion subcategory (M = 1.4, SD = 0.8).
These findings suggest depression, general anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences of household dysfunction, psychological abuse, and physical abuse are prevalent mental health concerns within the Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ population. While the study had a small sample and results are not generalizable to other populations, these findings provide a greater and more nuanced understanding of mental health for this population.
","abstract_html":"<p>The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: <em>M</em> = 26.6, <em>SD</em> = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (<em>n</em> = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.</p> <p>Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, non-binary, bisexual, 30-34 years old, Vietnamese, and income range $50,000-$74,999 had the highest prevalence of both moderate to moderately severe anxiety and depression. Overall, 68.4% of participants reported experiencing at least mild depressive symptoms in the past two weeks and 97.5% reported experiencing at least minimal anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Similarly, participants who were female, nonbinary, bisexual, and 24-29 years old reported the highest prevalence of three or more ACEs. A majority of participants (89.5%) reported experiencing at least one ACE with 44.7% experiencing three or more ACEs. By ACE category, the majority of participants reported ACEs of Household Dysfunction (83.3%), Psychological Abuse (65.8%), and Physical Abuse (39.5%). Overall, 64.1% of this sample reported low to moderate levels of outness about sexual orientation (<em>M</em> = 3.2, <em>SD</em> = 1.3). Participants indicated the highest levels of support for sexual orientation from Siblings (<em>M</em> = 4.6, <em>SD</em> = 2.3), New Straight Friends (<em>M</em> = 4.5, <em>SD</em> = 2.3) and Old Heterosexual Friends (<em>M</em> = 4.4, <em>SD</em> = 2.1); participants reported the least outness and support in the Religion subcategory (<em>M</em> = 1.4, <em>SD</em> = 0.8).</p> <p>These findings suggest depression, general anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences of household dysfunction, psychological abuse, and physical abuse are prevalent mental health concerns within the Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ population. While the study had a small sample and results are not generalizable to other populations, these findings provide a greater and more nuanced understanding of mental health for this population.</p>","abstract_has_math":true,"creators":["Phoummavong, Phetsamone P"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (M.A.)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Lan Doan","Vivien Tartter","Sophia Barrett"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:07Z","subjects":["Southeast Asian American","depression","anxiety","adverse childhood experiences","outness","LGBTQIA+","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1177","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Lan Doan","Vivien Tartter","Sophia Barrett"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Phoummavong, Phetsamone P"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-08-26T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Southeast Asian American","depression","anxiety","adverse childhood experiences","outness","LGBTQIA+","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1177"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: M = 26.6, SD = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (n = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.
Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, non-binary, bisexual, 30-34 years old, Vietnamese, and income range $50,000-$74,999 had the highest prevalence of both moderate to moderately severe anxiety and depression. Overall, 68.4% of participants reported experiencing at least mild depressive symptoms in the past two weeks and 97.5% reported experiencing at least minimal anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Similarly, participants who were female, nonbinary, bisexual, and 24-29 years old reported the highest prevalence of three or more ACEs. A majority of participants (89.5%) reported experiencing at least one ACE with 44.7% experiencing three or more ACEs. By ACE category, the majority of participants reported ACEs of Household Dysfunction (83.3%), Psychological Abuse (65.8%), and Physical Abuse (39.5%). Overall, 64.1% of this sample reported low to moderate levels of outness about sexual orientation (M = 3.2, SD = 1.3). Participants indicated the highest levels of support for sexual orientation from Siblings (M = 4.6, SD = 2.3), New Straight Friends (M = 4.5, SD = 2.3) and Old Heterosexual Friends (M = 4.4, SD = 2.1); participants reported the least outness and support in the Religion subcategory (M = 1.4, SD = 0.8).
These findings suggest depression, general anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences of household dysfunction, psychological abuse, and physical abuse are prevalent mental health concerns within the Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ population. While the study had a small sample and results are not generalizable to other populations, these findings provide a greater and more nuanced understanding of mental health for this population.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Mental Health of Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ Adults"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Lan Doan","Vivien Tartter","Sophia Barrett"],"dc:creator":["Phoummavong, Phetsamone P"],"dc:date.available":["2024-08-26T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: M = 26.6, SD = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (n = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.
Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, non-binary, bisexual, 30-34 years old, Vietnamese, and income range $50,000-$74,999 had the highest prevalence of both moderate to moderately severe anxiety and depression. Overall, 68.4% of participants reported experiencing at least mild depressive symptoms in the past two weeks and 97.5% reported experiencing at least minimal anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Similarly, participants who were female, nonbinary, bisexual, and 24-29 years old reported the highest prevalence of three or more ACEs. A majority of participants (89.5%) reported experiencing at least one ACE with 44.7% experiencing three or more ACEs. By ACE category, the majority of participants reported ACEs of Household Dysfunction (83.3%), Psychological Abuse (65.8%), and Physical Abuse (39.5%). Overall, 64.1% of this sample reported low to moderate levels of outness about sexual orientation (M = 3.2, SD = 1.3). Participants indicated the highest levels of support for sexual orientation from Siblings (M = 4.6, SD = 2.3), New Straight Friends (M = 4.5, SD = 2.3) and Old Heterosexual Friends (M = 4.4, SD = 2.1); participants reported the least outness and support in the Religion subcategory (M = 1.4, SD = 0.8).
These findings suggest depression, general anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences of household dysfunction, psychological abuse, and physical abuse are prevalent mental health concerns within the Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ population. While the study had a small sample and results are not generalizable to other populations, these findings provide a greater and more nuanced understanding of mental health for this population.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1177"],"dc:subject":["Southeast Asian American","depression","anxiety","adverse childhood experiences","outness","LGBTQIA+","Psychology"],"dc:title":["The Mental Health of Southeast Asian American LGBTQIA+ Adults"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:07Z"}