Mental Health Disparities Within the LGBT Population: A Comparison Between Transgender and Nontransgender Individuals

Overview

Journal Transgend Health

Date 2017 Nov 22

PMID 29159294

Citations 89

Authors

Dejun Su

Jay A Irwin

Christopher Fisher

Athena Ramos

Megan Kelley

Diana Ariss Rogel Mendoza

Jason D Coleman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study assessed within a Midwestern LGBT population whether, and the extent to which, transgender identity was associated with elevated odds of reported discrimination, depression symptoms, and suicide attempts. Based on survey data collected online from respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender persons over the age of 19 in Nebraska in 2010, this study performed bivariate - or chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine differences in reported discrimination, depression symptoms, suicide attempts, and self-acceptance of LGBT identity between 91 transgender and 676 nontransgender respondents. After controlling for the effects of selected confounders, transgender identity was associated with higher odds of reported discrimination (OR=2.63, <0.01), depression symptoms (OR=2.33, <0.05), and attempted suicides (OR=2.59, <0.01) when compared with nontransgender individuals. Self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with substantially lower odds of reporting depression symptoms (OR=0.46, <0.001). Relative to nontransgender LGB individuals, transgender individuals were more likely to report discrimination, depression symptoms, and attempted suicides. Lack of self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with depression symptoms among transgender individuals.

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