LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults During the 2025 Presidential Administration in the U.S.: Perceived Safety, Caregiver Acceptance, and Mental Health Outcomes

Hostile sociopolitical climates, including that fostered by the 2025 U.S. presidential administration, are a significant source of stress for LGBTQ+ people and increase their risk of adverse mental health outcomes, including psychological distress and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Accepting and affirming family environments help buffer LGBTQ+ people against the negative psychological effects of anti-LGBTQ+ sociopolitical hostility. However, limited research has examined the role of caregiver acceptance in LGBTQ+ emerging adults’ perceived safety and mental health during the 2025 U.S. presidential administration. Drawing on the temporal intersectional minority stress model, this study explored the moderating role of caregiver acceptance in the associations between perceived safety during this sociopolitical period and three mental health outcomes (i.e., depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury) in a sample of 470 LGBTQ+ emerging adults (Mage = 21.60). Findings show that higher perceived safety was particularly associated with reduced negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ emerging adults who experienced high acceptance from their caregivers. These findings point to the need for targeted interventions toward increasing caregiver acceptance among LGBTQ+ populations amidst stressful sociopolitical climates, as well as the relevance of exploring the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ sociopolitical hostility on their mental health.