“We Just Take Care of Each Other”: Navigating ‘Chosen Family’ in the Context of Health, Illness, and the Mutual Provision of Care amongst Queer and Transgender Young Adults

Levin, Nina Jackson; Kattari, Shanna K.; Piellusch, Emily K.; Watson, E. Moira

doi:10.3390/ijerph17197346

Cited by 69 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The development of affirming social support is protective of mental health. Social support can act as a buffer against the adverse mental health consequences of violence, stigma, and discrimination (Bockting et al., 2013 ), can assist in navigating health systems (Jackson Levin et al., 2020 ), and can contribute to psychological resilience in TGD people (Bariola et al., 2015; Başar and Öz, 2016 ). Diverse sources of social support, especially LGBTQ + peers and family, have been found to be associated with better mental health outcomes, well-being, and quality of life (Bariola et al., 2015; Başar et al., 2016 ; Kuper, Adams et al., 2018 ; Puckett et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Chapter 18 Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Coleman

Radix

Bouman

et al. 2022

International Journal of Transgender Health

1,053

492

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Background: Transgender healthcare is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field. In the last decade, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number and visibility of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people seeking support and gender-affirming medical treatment in parallel with a significant rise in the scientific literature in this area. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is an international, multidisciplinary, professional association whose mission is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health. One of the main functions of WPATH is to promote the highest standards of health care for TGD people through the Standards of Care (SOC). The SOC was initially developed in 1979 and the last version (SOC-7) was published in 2012. In view of the increasing scientific evidence, WPATH commissioned a new version of the Standards of Care, the SOC-8. Aim: The overall goal of SOC-8 is to provide health care professionals (HCPs) with clinical guidance to assist TGD people in accessing safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves with the aim of optimizing their overall physical health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment. Methods: The SOC-8 is based on the best available science and expert professional consensus in transgender health. International professionals and stakeholders were selected to serve on the SOC-8 committee. Recommendation statements were developed based on data derived from independent systematic literature reviews, where available, background reviews and expert opinions. Grading of recommendations was based on the available evidence supporting interventions, a discussion of risks and harms, as well as the feasibility and acceptability within different contexts and country settings. Results: A total of 18 chapters were developed as part of the SOC-8. They contain recommendations for health care professionals who provide care and treatment for TGD people. Each of the recommendations is followed by explanatory text with relevant references. General areas related to transgender health are covered in the chapters Terminology, Global Applicability, Population Estimates, and Education. The chapters developed for the diverse population of TGD people include Assessment of Adults, Adolescents, Children, Nonbinary, Eunuchs, and Intersex Individuals, and people living in Institutional Environments. Finally, the chapters related to gender-affirming treatment are Hormone Therapy, Surgery and Postoperative Care, Voice and Communication, Primary Care, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health, and Mental Health. Conclusions: The SOC-8 guidelines are intended to be flexible to meet the diverse health care needs of TGD people globally. While adaptable, they offer standards for promoting optimal health care and guidance for t...

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Section: Chapter 18 Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Coleman

Radix

Bouman

et al. 2022

International Journal of Transgender Health

1,053

492

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In response to ongoing family rejection and the myriad of stressors that transgender individuals face, chosen family and other forms of resilience can become a lifeline to promote psychological health. Numerous studies have examined the positive impact of community support and chosen family on transgender individuals (Barr et al, 2016; Jackson Levin et al, 2020; Kichler, 2022; Nuttbrock et al, 2015). For trans youth of color, in particular, connecting to a larger community and self-defining racial/ethnic and gender identities builds resilience against racism and antitrans violence (Singh, 2013).…”

Section: Defining Family Rejection Within Latinx Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recreating diasporic identity and community: Examination of transgender and nonbinary latinx healing from family rejection.

Cuervo¹,

Herrawi²,

Horne³

et al. 2023

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of healing from family rejection among transgender and nonbinary Latinx individuals. Participants were asked how they navigated family dynamics related to gender identity and specific behaviors or resources that promoted their healing from experiences of family rejection. Data from 12 interviews with Latinx nonbinary and transgender adults were analyzed through a critical-constructivist grounded theory method resulting in a hierarchy composed of three clusters related to the core category (healing from family rejection leads to the recreation of diasporic identity and community as one learns to live authentically in their ethnic/racial gendered expression). These clusters included recreation of the family system, community-based cultural healing, and autonomy in trans identity and psychological well-being. Relevant contributions to research and implications for psychologists are reviewed: (a) Latinx diasporic identity formation is facilitated through the reconstruction of familial relationships and cultural healing, and (b) chosen family and supportive community networks may adopt the responsibility of ethnic-racial socialization after proximity to family of origin is lost. Public Significance StatementThis study analyzed data from 12 interviews to examine how Latinx transgender and nonbinary individuals heal from experiences of family rejection. The findings presented suggest that transgender and nonbinary Latinx individuals describe healing from family rejection by engaging in a recreation of their diasporic identity and communities while coming into an affirming racial/ethnic gendered expression.

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“…A chosen family is a group of people who are emotionally close to one another and consider each other family without any biological or legal bonds [ 35 ]. There is still a lack of data about this topic as it relates to pediatrics, but in a recent study conducted on an adult population, Levin et al reported the experience of Tish, a nonbinary person who identifies as pansexual who met a chosen family for the first time when as a teenager and no longer keeps a relationship with the biological family [ 36 ].…”

Section: Home and Familymentioning

confidence: 99%

LGBTQ+ Youth Health: An Unmet Need in Pediatrics

Diana

Esposito

2022

Children

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At present, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people (LGBTQ+) are increasingly being empowered to freely express themselves, particularly young people and rising generations. Although data underline the trend of more open expression of different sexual orientations and gender identities, LGBTQ+ adolescents still suffer discrimination in the health care framework. Inclusive care by providers to look after the health of LGBTQ+ indiviuals is needed. Pediatricians are often the first health care providers for LGBTQ+ youth facing their sexual and gender identities. Unfortunately, pediatricians have limited knowledge about LGBTQ+ issues, which keeps them from fulfilling the specific needs of LGBTQ+ youth. The purpose of this review is to frame the most important aspects of LGBTQ+ youths’ lives, including risks, difficulties and needs, that pediatricians should investigate and meet to provide these youth with better and more individualizedassistance regarding their health. A literature analysis showed that pediatricians have insufficient knowledge of and comfort with several items regarding the management of LGBTQ+ youths. Increased awareness and knowledge of the specific and exclusive needs of LGBTQ+ adolescents are mandatory, including dedicated pediatric LGBTQ+ health care training. This would give them the opportunity to forward an inclusive health care system, thus reducing the risks related to stigma, bullying and family rejection and promoting sex education. Further studies are needed to better evaluate the prevalence of LGBTQ+ youths, gender-based medicine in pediatrics and the effects of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ younth population due to increased risks of psychosocial suffering, isolation and mental diseases.

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“We Just Take Care of Each Other”: Navigating ‘Chosen Family’ in the Context of Health, Illness, and the Mutual Provision of Care amongst Queer and Transgender Young Adults

Cited by 69 publications

References 28 publications

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Recreating diasporic identity and community: Examination of transgender and nonbinary latinx healing from family rejection.

LGBTQ+ Youth Health: An Unmet Need in Pediatrics

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