Mental health challenges and workplace risk factors among Sexual and Gender Minority Workers in Korea

This study examined disparities in mental health between sexual and gender minority (SGM) workers and the general working population in South Korea and identified workplace-related risk factors for depressive symptoms. We conducted an online survey of 720 SGM workers (July–August 2024), assessing individual- and workplace-level factors and mental health outcomes. Mental health outcomes included depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Age-standardized prevalence ratios (aPR) for depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts compared SGM workers with the general population using data from the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2022–2024) and the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS, 2023). Logistic regression identified risk factors for depressive symptoms. SGM workers had worse mental health (aPR: depressive symptoms 4.31, suicidal ideation 3.60, suicide attempts 4.52), higher job insecurity (aPR: 1.52), and workplace violence (past month aPR 5.16; past year 27.62). Depressive symptoms were linked to workplace violence, negative climate, poor work-life balance, low support, and job application avoidance due to SGM identity. SGM workers face disproportionate mental health challenges related to adverse working conditions and discrimination, highlighting the need for targeted protective strategies.