You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.

Skip to main
Donate Reach A Counselor Meet Friends

Civic Engagement, Political Concerns, and Mental Health among LGBTQ+ Young People

Though most LGBTQ+ young people were motivated to take political action, TGNB young people had higher rates of motivation, with half also reporting at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern.
Donate

Key Findings

  • Most LGBTQ+ young people (60%) reported feeling a sense of motivation to take political action in the past year, and 44% reported having at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern. 
  • Transgender and nonbinary young people were more likely to be motivated to take civic action (63% vs. 55%) and were more likely to have an LGBTQ+-related political concern (50% vs. 35%) than their cisgender peers.
  • Both motivation to take political action and LGBTQ+-related political concerns were associated with higher rates of recent anxiety and depression among LGBTQ+ young people.

Background

Despite declining in the general population, civic engagement – defined as activities such as voting, engaging in political activism, and community organizing – has become more common among many young people in the U.S.1 In youth populations, engagement with civic life is linked with positive mental health outcomes.2,3 Young people who are civically engaged reported fewer depressive symptoms and greater well-being over time compared to their less engaged peers.4,5 However, for LGBTQ+ young people, the relationship between civic engagement and positive mental health may be more complex. Although LGBTQ+ young people may be motivated to become civically engaged because of concerns about harmful political rhetoric and legislation, these same policies can also negatively impact their daily lives and generate associated distress. As a result, LGBTQ+ young people may experience civic engagement differently than their cisgender, heterosexual peers, especially when the policies they protest directly target their ability to safely go about their daily lives. Their involvement may have mixed effects on their mental health.6-8

Amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ political rhetoric and policies,9 it is important to better understand how LGBTQ+ young people’s civic engagement activities and political concerns relate to their mental health. This brief uses data from The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People to examine civic engagement, political concerns, and their relationship with mental health among LGBTQ+ young people.

Results

Civic engagement
LGBTQ+ young people were asked how motivated they felt to take civic or political action, such as donating money, volunteering time, attending a political event, or contacting a government representative. Among LGBTQ+ young people in the sample, the majority (60%) reported that they felt motivated to take political action in the last year (i.e., between fall 2022 and fall 2023). However, motivation to be civically engaged varied significantly across demographic groups. LGBTQ+ young people ages 18 to 24 (64%) were more likely to report feeling motivated to take political action in the past year than LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 17 (55%). In terms of sexual orientation, queer (70%) and lesbian (63%) young people were the most likely to feel motivated to take political action. TGNB young people were more likely to report being motivated to take political action (63%) than their cisgender peers (55%). Middle Eastern/North African LGBTQ+ young people (68%) and White LGBTQ+ young people (62%) were more likely to feel motivated to take political action than youth of other races/ethnicities. Regional differences also emerged, with LGBTQ+ young people in the Midwest being more likely to report feeling motivated to take political action (63%) than those in the Northeast, South, and West (59%).

Political concerns
Among LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 in our sample, over two in five (44%) reported having at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern, such as considering a move to a different state or needing to cross state lines to obtain health care because of LGBTQ+ politics. LGBTQ+ young people ages 18 to 24 were more likely to report at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern than those ages 13 to 17 (48% vs. 40%). Additionally, LGBTQ+ young people unable to meet their basic needs were more likely to have at least one political concern than those who were able to meet their basic needs (52% vs. 43%). Regarding sexual orientation, queer (50%) and pansexual (48%) young people reported the highest rates of having at least one political concern. TGNB young people reported having at least one political concern at a higher rate (50%) than their cisgender peers (35%). Compared to individuals of other races/ethnicities, White (47%) and Native/Indigenous LGBTQ+ young people (46%) were most likely to report having at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern. LGBTQ+ young people in the South (54%) were the most likely to have at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern, compared to those in the Midwest (47%), West (37%), and Northeast (30%).

Differences in Motivation to be Civically Engaged and Political Concerns, by Gender Identity chart

Voter registration
The vast majority (80%) of LGBTQ+ young people 18 to 24 years old were registered to vote; however, voter registration rates differed across subgroups. LGBTQ+ young people able to meet their basic needs were registered to vote at a higher rate (81%) than those unable to meet their basic needs (76%). By sexual orientation, lesbian (83%) and queer (82%) young people reported the  highest rates of voter registration. Cisgender young people were more likely to be registered to vote (82%) than their TGNB peers (78%). White (82%) and multiracial LGBTQ+ young people (80%) were registered to vote at a higher rate than LGBTQ+ youth of other races/ethnicities. Regionally, LGBTQ+ young people in the Northeast (83%) were registered to vote at higher rates than those in the Midwest (81%), West (80%), and South (78%).

Associations with mental health
Civically engaged LGBTQ+ young people were more likely to report worse mental health than those who were not. Feeling motivated to take political action was associated with greater odds of recent anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06–1.23). In addition, reporting at least one LGBTQ+-related political concern was associated with higher odds of recent anxiety (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI:1.20-1.37) and depression (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI:1.15-1.31).

Mental Health Differences among LGBTQ+ Young People by Political Concerns chart

Looking Ahead

Civic engagement and concerns about politics are important considerations when discussing the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S. Although prior research identifies political action and civic engagement as protective factors for young people’s mental health,2,10 our findings suggest that this association may be more complex for LGBTQ+ young people. Young people who had LGBTQ+-related political concerns were more likely to report recent anxiety and depression. We hypothesize that the antagonistic political environment both motivates civic engagement and causes mental distress,11 potentially confounding the observed association. More research is needed to determine causal relationships between these variables.

Generally, more marginalized groups of LGBTQ+ young people (e.g., TGNB young people, those with lower socioeconomic status) were more motivated to be civically engaged and more likely to endorse having LGBTQ+ political concerns. However, when looking at voter registration specifically, cisgender and higher socioeconomic LGBTQ+ young people were more likely to be registered to vote. This disparity suggests structural barriers to voting –such as identification document requirements, stable housing, and transportation – that disproportionately impact TGNB and lower socioeconomic LGBTQ+ young people.12 Enhancing voter participation for all LGBTQ+ young people starts with identifying these structural barriers and taking steps to reduce them.

Our findings also demonstrate the importance of geographic location and the impact of local politics. LGBTQ+ young people in the South reported the lowest rates of voter registration (78%), but the highest rates of LGBTQ+ political concerns (54%). While anti-LGBTQ+ political rhetoric is a country-wide occurrence, it is important to remember that these issues can be particularly prominent at the state and local level.13 Regional differences indicate that LGBTQ+ young people are aware of and influenced by localized political rhetoric. Additionally, regional differences in voter registration reflect larger issues, as the South historically demonstrates lower rates of voter registration.14 It is likely that these determining factors, in conjunction with fewer legal protections and more antagonistic rhetoric, also influence the civic engagement of LGBTQ+ young people in the South.15

These findings should be interpreted with caution, as we are unable to examine causal pathways with cross-sectional data, leaving questions about the directionality of associations. However, we do know that in order for LGBTQ+ young people to be able to access and fully participate in civic and political actions, we must work to create supportive and inclusive spaces that recognize how politics affect the mental health of marginalized youth. We must also prioritize removing systemic barriers to political engagement, so LGBTQ+ young people can be involved in shaping a future that reflects their unique lived experiences.

To learn how you can help make civic and political spaces more supportive of LGBTQ+ young people, check out these resources from The Trevor Project: How to Signal You’re an Ally in Hostile Spaces and Finding Support & Building Community amid Political Uncertainty. Also, check out our brief with the Movement Advancement Project: How State Policy Affects the Well-Being and Relocation of LGBTQ+ Young People.

Data Tables

Motivation to Participate in Political Action, by Participant Characteristics

Motivation to Participate in Political Action, by Participant Characteristics table

LGBTQ+-Related Political Concerns, by Participant Characteristics

LGBTQ+-Related Political Concerns, by Participant Characteristics table

Voter Registration, by Participant Characteristics

Voter Registration, by Participant Characteristics table

Methods

Sample
Data were collected through The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People. This brief used data from 18,663 LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 13 to 24 who were recruited via ads on social media.

Measures
Demographics were collected by asking participants to select a single identity category from a provided list. To assess civic engagement, participants were asked, “In the past year, I felt motivated to take political action (for example: donate money, volunteer time, attend a protest, contact my government representative)?” Response options ranged from ‘Strongly disagree’ to ‘Strongly agree.’ Responses were then dichotomized into those who agreed that they felt motivated to take political action and those who did not. To assess political concern, participants were asked, “Have LGBTQ-related politics or laws made you or your family: 1) Consider moving to a different state; 2) Actually move to a different state; 3) Consider a different college/university to attend; 4) Choose a different college/university to attend; and 5) Cross into another state to get medical care.” Respondents who indicated ‘Yes’ to any of the actions above were coded as having at least one LGBTQ+ political concern. Participants over the age of 18 were also asked, “Are you registered to vote?” with response options of ‘No’ and ‘Yes’. Recent depression and anxiety were assessed using the PHQ-2 and GAD-2, respectively.16,17

Analysis
Chi-square tests were run to examine differences between groups, controlling for age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, and census region. Logistic regression models were then applied to examine the association between measures of civic engagement and political concerns and mental health outcomes. Unless otherwise noted, all analyses are statistically significant at p<0.05, meaning results as extreme as those observed would be expected less than 5% of the time if there were no true difference (i.e., under the null hypothesis). Percentages in tables may not add up to 100 because of rounding.

References

  1. 1. Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. (2025). Youth Are Taking Civic Action, But Need Opportunities and Support to Overcome Socioeconomic Barriers. Retrieved from https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/youth-are-taking-civic-action-need-opportunities-and-support-overcome-socioeconomic. Accessed October 1, 2025.

    2. Ballard, P.J., Hoyt, L.T., & Pachucki, M.C. (2019). Impacts of adolescent and young adult civic engagement on health and socioeconomic status in adulthood. Child Development, 90(4): 1138-1154. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12998
  2. 3. Korich, F., & Fields, E.L. (2023). Civic engagement to empower young people to impact health and well-being. Pediatrics, 151(Supplement 1): e2022057267H. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-057267H.
  3. 4. Ballard, P.J., Ni, X., & Brocato, N. (2020). Political engagement and wellbeing among college students. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101209

    5. Wray-Lake, L., Shubert, J., Lin, L., & Starr, L. R. (2017). Examining associations between civic engagement and depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood in a national U.S. sample. Applied Developmental Science, 23(2), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2017.1326825

    6. Conner, J. O., Crawford, E., & Galioto, M. (2021). The Mental Health Effects of Student Activism: Persisting Despite Psychological Costs. Journal of Adolescent Research, 38(1), 80-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584211006789 (Original work published 2023).

    7. Lee, W.Y., Hobbs, J. N., Hobaica, S., DeChants, J.P., Price, M.N., & Nath, R. (2024). State-level anti-transgender laws increase past-year suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary young people in the USA. Nature Human Behaviour, 8(11): 2096-2106. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01979-5 

    8. Oubiña López, M., & Gómez Baya, D. (2025). Interventions to Promote Civic Engagement Among Youth and Its Outcomes on Mental Health: A Scoping Review. Children, 12(6), 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060665.

    9. Movement Advancement Project (2025). LGBTQ Policy Tally: Mapping Equality for LGBTQ Youth. www.mapresearch.org/2025-lgbtq-youth-report. Accessed September 28, 2025.

    10. Sharaf Eldin, N., Ibrahim, N., Farrag, N., & Elsheikh, E. (2025). The Effect of Civic Engagement on Mental Health and Behaviors among Adolescents. Medicine Updates, 21(21), 76-92. https://doi.org/10.21608/muj.2025.348094.1197

    11. White, B. P., Abuelezam, N. N., Fontenot, H. B., & Jurgens, C. Y. (2023). Exploring relationships between state-level LGBTQ inclusivity and BRFSS indicators of mental health and risk behaviors: a secondary analysis. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 29(3), 224-231. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903211007900

    12. Movement Advancement Project. (2022). The ID Divide: How Barriers to ID Impact Different Communities and Affect Us All. https://www.mapresearch.org/id-documents-report. Accessed October 20, 2025.

    13. The Trevor Project & Movement Advancement Project. (2025). How State Policy Affects the Well-Being and Relocation of LGBTQ+ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/how-state-policy-affects-the-well-being-and-relocation-of-lgbtq-young-people

    14. US Census Bureau. (2024). Table A-2. Reported Voting and Registration by Region, Educational Attainment and Labor Force Status for the Population 18 and Over: November 1964 to 2024. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/voting-and-registration/voting-historical-time-series.html. Accessed October 1, 2025.

    15. Movement Advancement Project. (2020). LGBTQ Policy Spotlight: Mapping LGBTQ Equality in the U.S. South. www.lgbtmap.org/regional-south-tally. Accessed October 20, 2025.

    16. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R.L., & Williams, J.B.W. (2003). The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a two-item depression screener. Medical Care, 41(11): 1284-1292. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.MLR.0000093487.78664.3C

    17. Plummer, F., Manea, L., Trepel, D., & McMillan, D. (2016). Screening for anxiety disorders with the GAD-7 and GAD-2: A systematic review and diagnostic metaanalysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 39: 24-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.11.005

The Trevor Project (2025). Civic Engagement, Political Concerns, and Mental Health among LGBTQ+ Young People. https://doi.org/10.70226/RYWX6880

For more information please contact: [email protected]

© The Trevor Project 2025

Download the Research Brief Return to Research Briefs Page