Factors affecting the mental health of the LGBTQ+ population in Greece

AI Summary

LGBTQ+ adults reported higher perceived stress, psychological distress and depressive symptoms than non-LGBTQ+ adults in Greece.
Structural stigma and minority stress were linked to greater distress and diminished the typical protective effects of personality traits among sexual and gender minorities.
Higher education was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, particularly for LGBTQ+ people; suicidality correlated most strongly with depression.

AI Summary

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between general stressors and minority stressors (including structural stigma and rejection sensitivity), personality traits, and mental health outcomes (perceived stress, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and suicidality) among LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ adults in Greece, integrating minority stress and temperament/trait frameworks. RESULTS: LGBTQ+ participants reported higher perceived stress, psychological distress, and depressive symptoms than non-LGBTQ+ participants. In the overall sample, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with lower stress-related outcomes; however, these associations were weaker among LGBTQ+ participants, and conscientiousness was positively associated with stress in gender-expansive participants.

Basic summary

Front Psychol. 2026 May 15;17:1811328. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1811328. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

METHODS: A cross-sectional, non-probabilistic survey of 389 adults in Greece (63% LGBTQ+) was conducted between January and December 2024 using a self-administered questionnaire distributed primarily online, with a parallel paper version entered into the same electronic database using standardized procedures. Measurement quality was supported by confirmatory factor analyses, reliability indices, and differential item functioning tests. Group comparisons and multivariable linear regression models, including interaction terms, were used to examine associations with outcomes.

RESULTS: LGBTQ+ participants reported higher perceived stress, psychological distress, and depressive symptoms than non-LGBTQ+ participants. In the overall sample, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with lower stress-related outcomes; however, these associations were weaker among LGBTQ+ participants, and conscientiousness was positively associated with stress in gender-expansive participants. Structural stigma was associated with greater distress, with patterns varying across subgroups. Higher educational attainment was inversely associated with depressive symptoms, particularly among LGBTQ+ participants. Suicidality was most strongly associated with depressive symptoms, while the association between psychological distress and suicidality appeared weaker among LGBTQ+ participants.

CONCLUSION: Minority stress indicators, structural stigma, and personality traits showed distinct patterns of association with mental health outcomes in this Greek sample, with evidence that minority stress conditions may attenuate typical trait-related buffering. Within the constraints of the cross-sectional design, the findings support stigma-informed public mental health interventions and policies that reduce structural barriers and strengthen context-appropriate protective resources for sexual and gender minorities.

PMID:42220395 | PMC:PMC13220167 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1811328

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