“Does Sexual Orientation Matter?”: A Comparative Analysis of the Prevalence and Determinants of Depression and Anxiety Among Heterosexual and Non-Heterosexual College Students in a University in Metro Manila

It is mostly assumed that the determinants of mental health among heterosexual students also apply to non-heterosexual students despite the additional stressors non-heterosexual students face. Thus, this study examined the prevalence and determinants of depression and anxiety among students based on sexual orientation. In doing so, two hundred and thirty-two (232) college students were randomly recruited. Likewise, this study utilized self-administered questionnaires, including the DASS-21. Afterward, descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, and logistic regression were used to analyze the results. This study found that non-heterosexual students had a significantly higher depression rate. Strikingly, being in a romantic relationship was a determinant of anxiety and depression among non-heterosexual students while it was protective among heterosexual students. Thus, sexual orientation mattered, wherein the determinants of depression and anxiety among college students varied based on sexual orientation.