Compounded Correlations Between Anxiety and Depression Symptomologies and Sexual Health Disparities Among Black Young Adult Females in the United States

The post-COVID-19-pandemic context presents various implications related to sexual and reproductive health access for historically disenfranchised groups. Practitioners must now contend with the long-term impact of stressors on Black women’s health experienced during the pandemic, including the role of mental health. In a study examining the relationship between anxiety and depression symptomatology and sexual health outcomes among a sample of 712 young adult Black females, ages 18–29, results from bivariate correlations, t-tests, and regression models indicate an increase in site-related barriers were associated with increased odds of having a miscarriage (OR: 1.673, 95%CI: 0.959–2.918) and an increase in restriction-related access barriers were associated with increased odds of having an STI contraction (OR: 2.522, 95%CI: 0.644–2.082). Significant differences were reported in depression symptoms between participants who experienced an STI contraction (chi² = 12.638, p = 0.005) and participants experienced childbirth (chi² = 7.875, p = 0.049). Older participants also reported decreased odds of having more depression symptoms compared to the youngest participants. Attention to the sexual and reproductive health needs of young Black females is even more necessary post-COVID due to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic in the Black communities and the often heavy reliance placed on Black women to carry the load of others, as the strong Black woman. Practitioners and medical professionals should consider the current and structural context of health as it specifically relates to the experience of being Black and female, as a strategy for reducing dyer sexual and mental health disparities.