Anxiety in sexual and gender minorities: an integrative review

ABSTRACT Objective To evidence the predisposing factors related to anxiety in sexual and gender minorities in the literature. Methods This is an integrative review. The search of the articles was conducted in three databases: PubMed/Medline, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge. The descriptors "anxiety", "LGBT people", "gay", "bisexual", "lesbian" and "transgender" were used, with complete texts, published between 2013 and 2018, in the English language, boolean operator AND was used. Results A total of 712 articles were found. Fifty-eight (58) articles were selected to be read in their entirety and 13 met the inclusion criteria of this review. Evidence shows that LGBT people is at higher risk for mental disorders, including anxiety, when compared to heterosexual. The appearance of signs and symptoms of anxiety are related to shame and the avoidant behavior of this population due to the strong discrimination and lack of social and family life, which causes high levels of distress. Only two articles studied minors 18 years old. Conclusions Health professionals should be welcoming and attentive to health mental health of this public, with a view to contributing to health promotion, social and family support and reduction of discrimination.