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2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 13796

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cristiano Scandurra

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Guest Editor

Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, NA, Italy
Interests: clinical psychology; mental health; health promotion; health disparities; gender
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Kimberly Balsam

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Center for LGBTQ Evidence-Based Applied Research (CLEAR), Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Interests: transgender and non-binary health; LGBTQ psychology; women and gender; same-sex and heterosexual couples; trauma; minority stress; CBT
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue on advances in the health of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals. TGNC people represent a community that is diverse with respect to gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, etc. Notwithstanding these differences, members of the TGNC population share many common experiences, such as belonging to a stigmatized minority. Indeed, although TGNC people represent a strongly resilient community, capable of successfully overcoming negative and adverse life conditions, they still experience high levels of prejudice, negatively affecting their health and wellbeing. An increasing body of literature has, in fact, demonstrated that gender-related prejudice and stigma are among the main factors producing health disparities. However, the TGNC population is changing, especially the younger segment, where a great percentage of people self-identify as non-binary, genderqueer, bigender, and so on, rejecting the binary view of the TGNC identity. Therefore, as researchers, we need to expand our knowledge base and look at TGNC people as a complex and segmented population with specific health needs.

This Special Issue is open to any subject area related to recent advances in TGNC health, with a specific interest in innovative methods, nationally representative data, young TGNC people, health disparities, minority stress, intersectionality, and resilience.

Dr. Cristiano Scandurra
Prof. Dr. Kimberly Balsam
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

transgender
non-binary
health disparities
minority stress
intersectionality
sexual health
resilience
individual-, interpersonal-, and community-based interventions
nationally representative data
young TGNC people

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coping Strategies as a Moderator for the Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Transgender Women

by Shannon S. Gray, Kayla Marie Sizemore and H. Jonathon Rendina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(11), 5927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20115927 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

Evidence suggests that intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with negative mental health outcomes. There is currently limited research on the impact of IPV on the outcomes of mental health for transgender women. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between intimate partner violence, coping skills, depression, and anxiety in a sample of transgender women. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted examining the relationship of IPV and depression and anxiety symptoms, where coping skills moderate this relationship. The results suggest that those with experiences of IPV are more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety. For individuals with no experiences of IPV and low depression, high levels of emotional processing coping and acceptance coping buffered this relationship. For individuals with more experiences of IPV and more depressive symptoms, coping skills did not show to buffer this relationship. These same coping skills did not show evidence for buffering anxiety symptoms for transgender women with low or high levels of IPV. The results, implications, and limitations of this study and suggestions for further research are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

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11 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body Image in Adolescents with Gender Incongruence and Its Association with Psychological Functioning

by Anouk Verveen, Anna I. R. van der Miesen, Nastasja M. de Graaf, Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels, Annelou L. C. de Vries and Thomas D. Steensma

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043349 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1974

Abstract

During adolescence, many individuals with gender incongruence (GI) experience distress related to body dissatisfaction. This study aims to describe the body (dis)satisfaction of Dutch adolescents referred for GI and to describe the influence of body image on their psychological functioning. Self-report measures on body satisfaction (Body Image Scale) and psychological functioning (Youth Self-Report) were obtained from 787 adolescents (aged 10–18) who were referred to the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers between 1996 and 2016. First, a general description of body satisfaction in adolescents with GI was developed. Secondly, multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between body image and psychological functioning, both for total problems and for internalizing and externalizing problems separately. Third, regression analyses are repeated for body area subscales. Adolescents with GI report the greatest dissatisfaction with the genital area, regardless of birth-assigned sex. For all other body areas, there were birth-assigned sex differences in satisfaction. The analyses showed that body satisfaction was significantly related to total psychological problems and both internalizing and externalizing problems. Greater body dissatisfaction is significantly associated with worse psychological functioning in adolescents with GI. Clinicians should monitor the body image of adolescents with GI over time, especially during puberty and medical interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

13 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt in Brazilian Transgender Youth

by Ítala Raymundo Chinazzo, Anna Martha Vaitses Fontanari, Angelo Brandelli Costa and Maria Inês Rodrigues Lobato

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3215; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043215 - 12 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1751

Abstract

The rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among transgender youths are high. However, in Brazil, there are no studies about these outcomes in this population. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Brazilian transgender youths (binary and non-binary), in association with predictor variables, following the Minority Stress Theory. The predictor variables analyzed were depressive symptoms, discrimination, gender distress, deprivation, social support, and gender identity support from parents and friends. Participants were recruited through an online survey. The final sample consisted of 213 participants, aged 13 to 25 years old. Two equal regression analyses were performed, one for each outcome. Out of the total, 103 (48.6%) identified as transgender boys, 44 (20.8%) as transgender girls, and 65 (30.7%) as non-binary. The mean age was 18.53 years (SD 2.50). The study found that 57.6% of the sample had depressive symptoms, 72.3% experienced suicidal ideation, and 42.7% had attempted suicide. In the final model, the variables that were associated with suicidal ideation were deprivation, gender distress, and depressive symptoms. As for suicide attempts, the variables deprivation and depressive symptoms were correlated. Further studies on this population should be conducted to analyze protective factors for these outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

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16 pages, 860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes towards Trans Men and Women in Spain: An Adaptation of the ATTMW Scale

by Miguel Ángel López-Sáez, Ariadna Angulo-Brunet, Lucas R. Platero, Vincenzo Bochicchio and Oscar Lecuona

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031872 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

This article presents the results of the adaptation and validation of the Attitudes Toward Trans Men and Women (ATTMW) scale—a measure capable of detecting transphobic positions towards trans men and women—in the Spanish context. A total of 310 prospective teachers from different stages of education participated in the study on its adaptation. In order to provide quantitative evidence of validity, confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis with different constructs and sociodemographic variables were carried out. Internal consistency reliability was adequate. The study demonstrated that the ATTMW is a psychometrically sound instrument for the assessment of attitudes towards trans people, especially with items that categorize trans women and men as second-class people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

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17 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Non-Binary Clients’ Experiences of Psychotherapy: Uncomfortable and Affirmative Approaches

by Fau Rosati, Maric Martin Lorusso, Jessica Pistella, Guido Giovanardi, Bianca Di Giannantonio, Marta Mirabella, Riccardo Williams, Vittorio Lingiardi and Roberto Baiocco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15339; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215339 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3531

Abstract

Non-binary people may face specific challenges in psychological settings. Psychotherapists often display a lack of preparation for non-binary gender identities, resulting in overt or subtle forms of prejudice that compromise the therapeutic alliance. The present study aimed to provide data on non-binary clients’ positive and negative experiences within therapeutic relationships. Twenty-five interviews were conducted with non-binary people in the age range of 19–35. Using codebook thematic analysis, the researchers identified three main themes: (1) the self of the psychotherapist, consisting of the impact of the therapist’s personal (i.e., sexual identity) and professional (i.e., competence) characteristics on the therapeutic experience; (2) the practice of the psychotherapist, emerging as affirmative (validation and microaffirmations) or negative (gender identity change efforts, manifest aggressions, and microaggressions) approaches toward non-binary identities; (3) the therapeutic relationship, referring to the alliance, rupture, and reparation based on the therapists’ openness toward non-binary identities. To provide a safer setting for non-binary clients, psychotherapists should incorporate issues related to gender minority identities in their training, acknowledge clinical errors when they occur and adopt an active predisposition to learn through the client’s experience, giving value to their unique contribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

13 pages, 514 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Desire for Genital Surgery in Trans Masculine Individuals: The Role of Internalized Transphobia, Transnormativity and Trans Positive Identity

by Annalisa Anzani, Marco Biella, Cristiano Scandurra and Antonio Prunas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8916; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158916 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1935

Abstract

Some trans people experience gender dysphoria, which refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s gender assigned at birth and one’s gender identity. People who are trans masculine or nonbinary assigned-female-at-birth may pursue multiple domains of gender affirmation, including surgical affirmation (e.g., masculine chest reconstruction, penile reconstruction, etc.). The present study aimed to investigate the possible factors involved in trans people’s desire to undergo gender-affirming genital surgery. Trans masculine and nonbinary participants (N = 127; mean age = 26.90) were recruited through a web-based survey and completed self-report instruments (i.e., the Internalized Transphobia subscale of the Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Measure, the Trans Positive Identity Measure, the Gender Congruence and Life Satisfaction Scale, an ad hoc scale on transnormativity, and a single-item on desire to undergo genital affirmation surgery). A path analysis showed that higher levels of internalized transphobia led to more significant genital discomfort via a dual parallel mediation of transnormativity and positive identity. Moreover, this genital discomfort fueling pattern was the most significant predictor of the desire to undergo genital surgery as the effect of internalized transphobia was fully mediated by increased genital discomfort. Findings are discussed in the light of the recent strand of research on gender dysphoria as a multifaceted construct, with social components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Current Research Trends in Transgender Health)

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