LGBTQ+ youth are deeply concerned about climate change, says new data

According to data from The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth are becoming increasingly worried about the impacts of climate change, says a brief shared with The Advocate.

Dr. Steven Hobaica, a research scientist with The Trevor Project, said in a statement to The Advocate, “Our data show that today’s LGBTQ+ young people are tuned into the world they are inheriting, reporting frequent worries about climate change. These concerns were also intertwined with broader mental health problems, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are already heightened among LGBTQ+ young people.”

“In short,” he continues, “this could mean that climate change, and how climate change is addressed, may contribute to the mental health challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, yet more research is necessary. Our findings underscore a crucial need for mental health services and integrated support systems that address both environmental and psychological stressors for LGBTQ+ youth.”

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Those aged between 18 and 24 and living in larger cities within the Northeastern, Western, and Midwestern United States were the most likely to report concerns for climate change, with data ranging from 55-59% expressing some concern. Those outside of these populations had slightly less concern, around 50-54%.

In fact, those most likely to be affected by climate change reported greater worry about it, however not as much anxiety as the general population.

Additionally, those who had symptoms of anxiety were more likely to worry about climate change (59%) compared to those that didn’t (47%). Similar results were found for those who had symptoms of depression (58%) to (51%).

The data comes from The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.