Rebecca Freese1, Miles Q Ott2, Brian A Rood2, Sari L Reisner3,4,5, David W Pantalone4,6. 1. University of Minnesota. 2. Smith College. 3. Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School. 4. The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health. 5. Harvard School of Public Health. 6. University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the unique coping strategies of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in the United States used to manage gender-related stress, and examined associations between specific coping profiles and mental health. METHODS: Data were from 316 participants in the 2014-2015 Transgender Stress and Health Study, an online study of TGNC mental and sexual health. A factor analysis of the coping measure (Brief COPE) was followed by a k-means cluster analysis to evaluate distinct profiles of coping with gender-related stress. Proportional odds models and logistic regression models indicated how coping profiles related to levels of self-reported depressive symptoms and suicidality. RESULTS: A 4-factor structure was identified with three distinct profiles of coping with gender-related stress, each representative of the frequency (high or low) in which participants used functional and dysfunctional coping strategies: (a) high-functional/low-dysfunctional, (b) high-functional/high-dysfunctional, and (c) low-functional/low-dysfunctional. There were significant differences in depressive symptoms and suicidality based on distinct gender-related coping profiles. The high-functional/high-dysfunctional group reported significantly poorer mental health compared with the high-functional/low-dysfunctional group. CONCLUSION: To improve mental health outcomes in TGNC individuals, health providers and researchers should strive to not only promote functional coping strategies for managing gender-related stress but also decrease dysfunctional coping strategies.
OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the unique coping strategies of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in the United States used to manage gender-related stress, and examined associations between specific coping profiles and mental health. METHODS: Data were from 316 participants in the 2014-2015 Transgender Stress and Health Study, an online study of TGNC mental and sexual health. A factor analysis of the coping measure (Brief COPE) was followed by a k-means cluster analysis to evaluate distinct profiles of coping with gender-related stress. Proportional odds models and logistic regression models indicated how coping profiles related to levels of self-reported depressive symptoms and suicidality. RESULTS: A 4-factor structure was identified with three distinct profiles of coping with gender-related stress, each representative of the frequency (high or low) in which participants used functional and dysfunctional coping strategies: (a) high-functional/low-dysfunctional, (b) high-functional/high-dysfunctional, and (c) low-functional/low-dysfunctional. There were significant differences in depressive symptoms and suicidality based on distinct gender-related coping profiles. The high-functional/high-dysfunctional group reported significantly poorer mental health compared with the high-functional/low-dysfunctional group. CONCLUSION: To improve mental health outcomes in TGNC individuals, health providers and researchers should strive to not only promote functional coping strategies for managing gender-related stress but also decrease dysfunctional coping strategies.
Authors: Noor Beckwith; Michal J McDowell; Sari L Reisner; Shayne Zaslow; Roger D Weiss; Kenneth H Mayer; Alex S Keuroghlian Journal: LGBT Health Date: 2019-02-01 Impact factor: 4.151
Authors: Alíxida G Ramos-Pibernus; Eliut R Rivera-Segarra; Sheilla L Rodríguez-Madera; Nelson Varas-Díaz; Mark Padilla Journal: Transgend Health Date: 2020-12-11
Authors: Shanna K Kattari; Leonardo Kattari; Ian Johnson; Ashley Lacombe-Duncan; Brayden A Misiolek Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-18 Impact factor: 3.390