The Mediating Effect of Physical Activity on Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adolescents During COVID-19

Purpose: Adolescents identifying as a sexual minority frequently experience mental health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity (PA) has numerous benefits for mental health and emotional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of PA on the association between sexual minority status and mental health among adolescents during COVID-19. Methods: A sample of adolescents (grades 9-12) completed the online Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES; N = 7677; 49.6% male) in 2021. The independent variable in this study was a recorded binary response item asking about sexual orientation. The dependent variable was a mental health latent variable constructed using indicator items of self-reported ratings of mental health and the presence of sadness or hopelessness. The PA mediator variable was a latent variable with indicator items asking about PA frequency, sports participation, and muscle-strengthening activities. Weighted structural equation models tested the direct effects of sexual minority status, mental health, and adolescent PA. Results: The indirect effect (IE) between sexual minority status and mental health through PA was statistically significant (IE = -0.03, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) with 9% of the total effect being mediated through lower PA levels. The direct effect of sexual minority status on mental health was significant and stronger in magnitude (b = -0.32, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: PA partially mediated the association between adolescents’ sexual minority status and mental health during COVID-19. Improving PA in adolescents of a sexual minority has the potential to alleviate mental health issues during pandemics.