Clinical, psychosocial, and sociodemographic factors of sexual and gender minority groups with cancer: A systematic review

Purpose: Psychosocial health varies depending on demographic and clinical factors and the social context in which individuals grow and live. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience health disparities due to systemic factors that privilege cisgender and heterosexual identities. We reviewed the literature on the psychosocial, sociodemographic, and clinical factors in SGM groups with cancer and described the associations among these factors.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review according to Fink's methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines in the PubMed, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and LGBTQ+ Life databases. Quantitative articles published in English or Spanish were included. Grey literature and studies with participants in hospice care were excluded. The quality of the publications was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute criticalappraisal tools.

Results: The review included 25 publications. In SGM groups, systemic cancer treatment was associated with worse psychosocial outcomes; and older age, employment, and higher income were associated with better psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusions: SGM groups with cancer are different from their heterosexual cisgender peers in sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors. Clinical and sociodemographic factors are associated with psychosocial outcomes among SGM individuals with cancer.