Psychological Well-Being of Trans* People in Italy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Critical Issues and Personal Experiences

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic represents risk to physical health and psychological well-being. Specifically, it causes concerns among minoritized communities, such as transgender/non-binary individuals. The study investigates the experience of this group in Italy during the pandemic and identifies risk factors that exerted negative impacts on psychological well-being and physical health. Methods The study developed an online questionnaire to investigate psychological status, access to medical health services, and factors such as predictors of risk outcomes among transgender/non-binary people during lockdown restrictions. Responses were collected (n = 256) on April 2020. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis of variance, and t-test were conducted. Results The respondents confirmed several issues, such as worries about the future (58.2%), negative emotions (46.9%), and self-uncertainty (52.7%) during the pandemic. Difficulties in undertaking hormone therapy and access to health facilities were reported. Living with family members represented a significant stressor for psychological well-being, whereas lack of support from LGBT + communities was reported. Subjects undergoing psychological therapy during the pandemic reported increases in depression, anxiety, somatization, and lack of privacy in the household. Conclusions The study findings provide a framework for critical aspects experienced by transgender/non-binary individuals during the pandemic. Specifically, the study provides evidence of the vulnerability of this population underlined by multiple difficulties. Policy Implications The study findings provide an overview of the experience of transgender and non-binary people during the pandemic, insights regarding risk factors, and aspects that require adequate attention and care.

Spanish LGBTQ+ Youth and the Role of Online Networks During the First Wave of Covid‐19

“…This is even more true in a situation of a pandemic. Alarming data exist on the lack of support for LGBTQ+ youth and, in particular, trans or nonbinary youth (Buspavanich et al, 2021;Jones et al, 2021;Mirabella et al, 2021).…”

“…During the pandemic, support networks helped these young people cope with the associated challenges and imposed restrictions (Mirabella et al, 2021). This occurred in a context in which not only were their social relationships reduced, but they faced potentially hostile situations around their sexuality and greater discomfort linked to their uncertainty regarding the immediate future.…”

Adherencia a las conductas preventivas de la COVID-19 en mujeres trans colombianas

“…En el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19, los retos para la comunidad trans se deben visibilizar (Agana et al, 2019;Aisner et al, 2020;Romanelli & Lindsey, 2020), dado que, debido a su identidad y expresión de género no hegemónica, en Colombia están expuestas a un sinnúmero de vulneraciones, inequidades y afectaciones que impactan de manera negativa su salud y bienestar. En suma, en el contexto de la pandemia, de acuerdo con varias investigaciones, aumentaron las inequidades de acceso y atención en salud de esta población (Kline, 2020), lo que les añade una carga considerable en aspectos socioeconómicos (Van der Miesen et al, 2020) y factores estresantes que complican su salud y bienestar (Akré et al, 2021;Jarrett et al, 2021;Mirabella et al, 2021;Salerno et al, 2020).…”

“…Al respecto, en diferentes investigaciones en el mundo con personas trans se identificaron varias problemáticas que esta población tuvo que enfrentar durante la pandemia por COVID-19, por ejemplo, déficit en el bienestar dentro de los hogares (debido a que algunas tuvieron que retornar y convivir con su familias durante la cuarentena), mayor incidencia de problemas de salud mental, pérdida de sus empleos a causa del aislamiento preventivo, dificultad para acceder a sus tratamientos farmacológicos transafirmativos (Gava et al, 2021;Jarrett et al, 2021;Mirabella et al, 2021), falta de apoyo por parte de las comunidades LGB-TQ (Mirabella et al, 2021), déficit en la atención médica transafirmativa para las mujeres trans (Chen et al, 2020) y violencia institucional a causa de las medidas restrictivas gubernamentales por sexo biológico (Pérez-Brumer & Silva-Santisteban, 2020). Teniendo en cuenta este contexto, Koehler et al (2020) afirman que las personas trans tienen más probabilidad de una infección por COVID-19, mayor evitación de la prueba y el tratamiento, por miedo, maltrato o discriminación anticipada, a causa de las experiencias previas en los servicios de atención médica.…”

A Social study on the Human Rights of the Trans-community of a Developing Country, Pakistan

“…Due to a lack of earning sources, their savings depleted, and they are seeking assistance from the people and local community the people and local community. Also, due to the absence of proper health care and supporting behavior by health staff, transgender people are the most vulnerable to covid-19 (Mirabella et al, 2021).…”