Mental health care access and utilization across sexual and racial-ethnic identity

Mental health care access and utilization are crucial to supporting mental health and wellbeing; yet differences persist across sexual identity and racial-ethnic groups. The extant literature suggests that, compared to heterosexuals and White people, respectively, sexual minorities (SMs) utilize mental health care more but have less access; and People of Color (POC) utilize care less and have less access. However, less is known about the sexual and racial-ethnic patterns of utilization and access in the context of each other. Thus, in this study we examine mental health care access (i.e., unmet mental health needs) and utilization (i.e., counseling/therapy receipt), as differing based on sexual identity, racial-ethnic identity, and their intersection, using a population-based U.S. sample of adults aged 18-65 (n = 528,191). We hypothesized that the sexual and racial-ethnic differences in unmet needs and utilization would remain significant or become greater among those belonging to marginalized groups along both identities. In line with current research, we found that SMs had both higher utilization and unmet needs compared to heterosexuals, and that POC reported less utilization. We found more complex patterns than expected for racial-ethnic differences in unmet needs; and that despite some important interactions, our hypothesis that differences would be greater for SM POC mostly lacked support. We discuss findings in light of prior literature along with limitations and implications for theory, research, and practice.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Nguyen, Daniel M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Todd, Nathan R
• Cohen, Joseph

• Sexual Minority Health
• Mental Health Care

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Daniel Nguyen

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124590

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F124590