Psychosocial Experiences of Sexual and Gender Minority Nursing Students in a South African College

Phonia N Bopape; Thandisizwe R Mavundla

doi:10.25159/2958-3918/19703

Authors

Phonia N Bopape University of South Africa
Thandisizwe R Mavundla University of the Witwatersrand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2958-3918/19703

Keywords:

psychosocial experiences, sexual and gender minority, nursing students, college, South Africa

Abstract

Tertiary students frequently report mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and burnout. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) students enrolled in healthcare-related programmes face additional stressors, including stigma, discrimination, identity concealment and social isolation. Transgender and non-binary students, in particular, report heightened distress, often due to institutional and peer-level discrimination. Despite growing societal awareness, SGM students continue to experience marginalisation and high emotional distress. These negative psychosocial experiences can impair mental health, hinder interpersonal relationships and limit academic achievement in high-pressure environments. SGM youth are also at greater risk of homelessness, substance misuse and academic failure due to a lack of familial and institutional support. Student counselling services are integral to promoting psychological well-being, offering psychotherapy, crisis intervention and referrals. However, many SGM students encounter barriers such as heteronormative assumptions, stigma and untrained staff, which diminish the efficacy of these services. Early access to inclusive mental healthcare can mitigate the long-term impact of psychological distress.

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