Sarah Ketchen Lipson1, Julia Raifman2, Sara Abelson3, Sari L Reisner4. 1. Department of Health Law Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: sklipson@bu.edu. 2. Department of Health Law Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; The Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine mental health status by gender identity among undergraduate and graduate students. METHODS: Data came from the 2015-2017 Healthy Minds Study, a mobile survey of randomly selected students (N=65,213 at 71 U.S. campuses, including 1,237 gender minority [GM] students); data were analyzed in 2018. Outcomes were symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-injury, and suicidality based on widely used, clinically validated screening instruments. Bivariable and multivariable analyses explored differences between GM and cisgender (non-GM) students as well as by assigned sex at birth. RESULTS: Across mental health measures, a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms was observed in GM students than cisgender students. Compared with 45% of cisgender students, 78% of GM students met the criteria for 1 or more of the aforementioned mental health outcomes. GM status was associated with 4.3 times higher odds of having at least 1 mental health problem (95% CI=3.61, 5.12). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this largest campus-based study of its kind using representative data with both gender identity and mental health measures underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing GM mental health burdens, such as by screening for mental health and providing gender-affirming services. There is broad urgency to identify protective factors and reduce mental health inequities for this vulnerable population.
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine mental health status by gender identity among undergraduate and graduate students. METHODS: Data came from the 2015-2017 Healthy Minds Study, a mobile survey of randomly selected students (N=65,213 at 71 U.S. campuses, including 1,237 gender minority [GM] students); data were analyzed in 2018. Outcomes were symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-injury, and suicidality based on widely used, clinically validated screening instruments. Bivariable and multivariable analyses explored differences between GM and cisgender (non-GM) students as well as by assigned sex at birth. RESULTS: Across mental health measures, a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms was observed in GM students than cisgender students. Compared with 45% of cisgender students, 78% of GM students met the criteria for 1 or more of the aforementioned mental health outcomes. GM status was associated with 4.3 times higher odds of having at least 1 mental health problem (95% CI=3.61, 5.12). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this largest campus-based study of its kind using representative data with both gender identity and mental health measures underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing GM mental health burdens, such as by screening for mental health and providing gender-affirming services. There is broad urgency to identify protective factors and reduce mental health inequities for this vulnerable population.
Authors: John E Pachankis; Zachary A Soulliard; Ilana Seager van Dyk; Eric K Layland; Kirsty A Clark; Deborah S Levine; Skyler D Jackson Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2022-07
Authors: Jocelyn C Anderson; Michelle D S Boakye; Zoe Feinstein; Summer Miller-Walfish; Kelley A Jones; Carla D Chugani; Alexandra Schmulevich; Reesha Jackson; Elizabeth Miller Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2022-04-05
Authors: Jennifer K Felner; Sean J Haley; Hee-Jin Jun; Jennifer P Wisdom; Laura Katuska; Heather L Corliss Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2021-01-07 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Emily N Satinsky; Tomoki Kimura; Mathew V Kiang; Rediet Abebe; Scott Cunningham; Hedwig Lee; Xiaofei Lin; Cindy H Liu; Igor Rudan; Srijan Sen; Mark Tomlinson; Miranda Yaver; Alexander C Tsai Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-07-13 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Anne Claire Grammer; Melissa M Vázquez; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Lauren A Fowler; Gavin N Rackoff; Natasha A Schvey; Sarah Ketchen Lipson; Michelle G Newman; Daniel Eisenberg; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2021-05-15
Authors: Keith Sanfacon; Alex Leffers; Cara Miller; Oliver Stabbe; Lori DeWindt; Kathryn Wagner; Poorna Kushalnagar Journal: Transgend Health Date: 2021-06-02