IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Presentation
Original Publication Date
2025
Date of Submission
June 2025
Abstract
PURPOSE: Compared to their cisgender/heterosexual peers, LGBTQ+ college students are at elevated risk of substance use and mental health challenges. Having more LGBTQ+ identity support is related to less depression and better recovery outcomes. Collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) provide wraparound support to students in recovery, but limited research has examined the unique needs of LGBTQ+ CRP students. We examined the relationship between LGBTQ+ identity support, identity-related discrimination experiences, depression, and recovery capital. We also compared the psychosocial and recovery functioning of LGBTQ+ CRP students. METHODS: We examined data from N=113 LGBTQ+ participants from the National Longitudinal Collegiate Recovery Study. We conducted two linear regressions. Linear regression 1 examined the impact of LGBTQ+ identity support at CRPs and the number of identity-related experiences of discrimination they had (0-10) on depression subscale scores of the SLC-90, controlling for age. Linear regression 2 examined the effect of depression scores and number of discrimination experiences on Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC) scores, controlling for age. RESULTS: Regression model 1 explained 40.2% of depression scores for LGBTQ+ participants in CRPs (adjR 2 =0.139, F(3,109) = 7.010, p< .001). Higher identity support scores were associated with lower depression scores (β=.318, p< .001), and lower discrimination scores were associated with higher depression scores (β=-.216, p=.016). Regression model 2
explained 46.1% of BARC total scores for participants in CRPs (adjR 2 =0.200, F(3,201) = 18.037, p< .001). Higher identity support scores were not significantly associated with higher BARC scores (β=.083, p=.194), but higher depression scores were associated with lower BARC scores (β=-.444, p< .001). CONCLUSIONS: While having LGBTQ+ identity support is not directly related to recovery capital, it is instrumental in reducing depression, and having lower levels of depression is related to having more recovery capital for LGBTQ+ CRP students. CRPs can better support their LGBTQ+ students in a number of ways, including using correct names and pronouns, managing incidents of discrimination that occur within recovery spaces, and working with LGBTQ+ campus organizations to identify other ways to improve services.
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Spit for Science Publications and Presentations