1 - (SYM 40) Coping Mechanisms & Mental Health in Sexual Minority Community Veterans

Background: Coping is the utilization of strategies to better manage demands and stress, whether they be internal or external. These behaviors can be positive or negative, based in support and growth or distraction and self-harm. Among the LGB community, there is greater risk for mental health issues and minimal research on the role of coping strategies among LG vs. B veterans. This paper explores the coping strategies utilized by LGB veterans and their relation to mental health outcomes.

Method: Participants included 224 community veterans (LG = 126; B = 98) who completed measures on coping mechanisms, depression, anxiety, and suicidality at timepoint 2 of a national longitudinal veteran study. A frequency table was used to describe most used coping strategies, and an independent samples t-test was run to compare coping strategies in LG vs. B groups. A multiple linear regression was run to evaluate associations between coping strategies and mental health outcomes. Age, race, ethnicity, and gender identity were controlled for in all inferential analyses.

Results: Data analysis showed that active coping was the most highly utilized coping skill amongst LGB veterans, with religion and substance use being among the lowest used. Notably, bisexual veterans used planning significantly more than lesbian and gay veterans. For LGB veterans, emotional support (t = -3.209, p = .001) and humor (t = -2.358, p = .018) were the most strongly associated with lower depression scores. Lower anxiety scores were most closely associated with emotional support (t = -2.488, p = .013). Suicidality scores were not significantly associated with any coping strategies, though were significantly impacted by racial and ethnic status. There were no differences between LG and B groups regarding associations between coping strategies and mental health outcomes.

Discussion: Social support may be a particularly salient protective factor for LGB veterans with emotional support and humor bring the most associated with lower depression and anxiety for LGB veterans. Interestingly, LGB veterans engaged in moderate to high self-blame and little religious coping, though these were not associated with mental health outcomes. These results may be used to inform prevention and treatment for both community and clinical LGB veteran populations, highlighting particularly effective coping strategies and areas of persistent difficulty.