Suicide risk in trans populations: An application of minority stress theory.

Abstract

Drawing on minority stress theory, the present study tested the relations of minority stressors (i.e., experiences of prejudice and discrimination, internalized antitrans attitudes, fear of antitrans stigma), social support (i.e., friend, family, and significant other support), and substance use (i.e., drug and alcohol use) with depression and suicide risk in a sample of trans individuals. Depression was examined as a mediator of the relations of minority stressors and social support with suicide risk; drug and alcohol use were examined as direct correlates of suicide risk. Participants were 335 trans-identified individuals, diverse in gender identities (e.g., trans men, trans women, nonbinary gender identities). They were recruited using online social networks and they completed the study survey online via Qualtrics. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypothesized relations. Depression fully mediated the relations of perceived experiences of discrimination, fear of antitrans stigma, and friend support with suicide risk, and partially mediated the relation of internalized antitrans attitudes with suicide. Drug use was positively associated with suicide risk, whereas alcohol use was not linked with suicide risk. Exploratory comparisons across gender subgroups suggested that the pattern of relations among study variables was consistent across trans men, trans women, and individuals with nonbinary gender identities. These findings point to minority stressors, friend support, and drug use as potentially fruitful targets of prevention and intervention efforts to reduce depression and suicide risk in trans populations. (PsycINFO Database Record

Victimization and depressive symptomology in transgender adults: The mediating role of avoidant coping.

“…(Tebbe & Moradi, 2016; Weston & Gore, 2006) Table 2 displays both the unstandardized and standardized results of the CFA for victimization, avoidant coping, and depressive symptomology. The measurement model fit the data adequately: X 2 ( df = 41) = 389.15, p < .001; NFI = .95; CFI = .96; RMSEA =.06 (90% CI = .05, .07); SRMR = .04.…”

“…Based on the results of each exploratory factor analysis, items were rank ordered from highest to lowest factor loading. To ensure a similar magnitude of average factor loadings across parcels, the highest factor loadings were grouped with the lowest factor loadings in counterbalancing order (Tebbe & Moradi, 2016). …”

Unveiling of HIV dynamics among transgender women: a respondent-driven sampling study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…19 Additionally, transgender people faced with multiple stigmas may use substances to cope with discrimination and stigma, which may result in increased risk for HIV. 20 Substance use before or during sex was previously shown to be an independent predictor of condomless receptive anal sex in transwomen. 21,22 …”

Transactional pathways of transgender identity development in transgender and gender-nonconforming youth and caregiver perspectives from the Trans Youth Family Study

“…Minority stress theory proposes that experiencing prejudice and discrimination related to stigma associated with holding a marginalized identity has a negative impact on health (Hendricks & Testa, 2012; Meyer, 2003). As a likely consequence to minority stress experienced as a result of stigma associated with being transgender, studies of mental health among transgender individuals, including youth, consistently show elevated rates of suicidality, anxiety, and depression (Bouman et al, 2017; Colizzi, Costa, & Todarello, 2014; Connolly, Zervos, Barone, Johnson, & Joseph, 2016; Millet, Longworth, & Arcelus, 2017; Perez-Brumer, Hatzenbuehler, Oldenburg, & Bockting, 2015; Reisner et al, 2015; Tebbe & Moradi, 2016; Warren, Bryant Smalley, & Nikki Barefoot, 2016). Mental and physical health care professionals have begun to see a substantial rise in referrals for gender nonconforming youth (Malpas, 2011; Meyer, 2012; Alegria, 2011; Olson-Kennedy, 2016).…”