Familial Rejection and Psychological Distress Among Young Transgender Women in Chicago and Boston Público

Scully, Kate (2016)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/1c18dg459?locale=es
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Abstract

Purpose: The central aim of this analysis is to investigate the association between transphobia, sex work, familial rejection and psychological distress and social support, among young transgender women (YTW) aged 16-29.

Methods: These data were collected via in-person surveys. A total of 300 YTW ages 16-29 were recruited through multiple convenience and referral-based sampling techniques and were enrolled over a period of 36 months. Three surveys were incomplete, thus this analysis examines data from a sample of n=297 YTW. Two outcomes were modeled using multivariate regression: self-reported psychological distress and social support. Key covariates included internalized, perceived, and experienced stigma; history of sex work, and relationship equity. Models controlled for age, race/ethnicity, and education.

Results: Nearly half of the sample reported a history of sex work (n=147), and more than 30% reported having attempted suicide in their lifetime (n=90). In this sample, 39.4% (n=117) reported at least one instance of familial rejection from an immediate family member. Women who reported instances of familial rejection experienced a 6.23 unit increase in psychological distress (95% CI: 2.38, 10.08; p: 0.002).

Conclusion: There are significant gaps in the literature addressing transgender health, and too few studies explore familial rejection and psychological distress among transgender women with a history of sex work. The strong association between familial rejection and experiences of psychological distress and suicidality highlights a need for more research. This finding also suggests a critical gap in education for the families of YTW, which could be addressed through evidence-based public health interventions.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ---- 1

OBJECTIVES AND AIMS ---- 4

TRANSPHOBIA - INTERNALIZED STIGMA; PERCEIVED STIGMA; AND EXPERIENCED STIGMA ---- 5

SEX WORK ---- 6

RELATIONSHIP POWER ---- 7

CHAPTER II: MANUSCRIPT ---- 8

INTRODUCTION ---- 12

BACKGROUND ---- 12

DATA & METHODS ---- 14

MEASUREMENTS ---- 17

Relationship Power ---- 17

Psychological Distress ---- 18

Social Support ---- 18

Transphobia ---- 19

RESULTS ---- 24

DISCUSSION ---- 29

CONCLUSION ---- 35

APPENDICES ---- 37

CHAPTER III: RECOMMENDATIONS ---- 42

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS ---- 42

CHAPTER IV: REFERENCES ---- 50

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