Does Hair Cortisol Mediate the Effects of Sexual and Gender Minority Stress on Depression and Anxiety? A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

This study involving 328 sexually and gender-diverse individuals and 286 cis-gender heterosexuals from Switzerland found that gender-diverse people experience higher levels of depression and anxiety, along with lower hair cortisol levels, compared to sexually diverse and cis-heterosexual individuals. Minority stress was linked to increased depression and anxiety among sexually and gender-diverse participants, with internalized stigma correlating with hair cortisol levels. These results suggest that the combination of increased mental health issues and altered cortisol levels may contribute to health disparities in gender-diverse populations.