Psychosocial Disparities Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Transgender Young Adults and Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Living in Detroit.

José A Bauermeister,Laura Jadwin-Cakmak,Daniel Connochie,Rob Stephenson,Tamar Goldenberg

doi:10.1089/trgh.2016.0027

José A Bauermeister, Laura Jadwin-Cakmak + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2016.0027

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Abstract

Purpose: Transgender populations in the United States experience unique inequities in health and social well-being; however, they continue to be categorized with men who have sex with men (MSM) in HIV surveillance. To illustrate the differences in the lived realities of young MSM and transgender youth, we compare psychosocial outcomes across a sample of transgender and MSM youth from Detroit.Methods: Data for this study come from a community-based cross-sectional survey of young adults (ages 18–29) living in Detroit who identify as transgender and/or as cisgender young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Using participants' geographic location within the city of Detroit, we matched transgender participants (N=26) to YMSM (N=123) living in the same area, and compared the prevalence in risk and resilience indicators across the two groups.Results: Transgender participants were more likely than YMSM to experience socioeconomic vulnerability across several indicators, including lower educational attainment and workforce participation, greater residential instability, and higher lifetime experiences of transactional sex. Transgender participants were more likely than YMSM to report poorer health status, higher symptoms of depression and anxiety, and greater experiences of daily hassles and gender-related discrimination. Transgender participants did not differ from YMSM peers on health-promotive factors, including self-esteem, coping mastery, purpose in life, or social support.Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of addressing the social and economic inequities experienced by transgender young adults. Local- and national-level programmatic and policy interventions are recommended to alleviate the psychosocial vulnerability experienced by transgender young adults and to improve their health and social well-being.

Highlights

Transgender individuals in the United States experience a high prevalence of targeted stigma and discrimination.[1,2] The experience of stigma and discrimination marginalizes transgender individuals, resulting in an increase in a range of psychosocial stressors as well as negative health outcomes.[2,3] To create effective programming for transgender communities, it is essential to understand the specific needs and lived realities of these communities as an essential part of the U.S public health discourse.[4]
To better understand the experiences of transgender individuals, this study examines a variety of psychosocial risk and promotive factors, health outcomes, and examines the differences between transgender youth and cisgender young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Detroit, MI
We observed no differences in race/ethnicity between YMSM and transgender participants (w2 = 2.70, p = 0.26)

Summary

Introduction

Transgender individuals in the United States experience a high prevalence of targeted stigma and discrimination.[1,2] The experience of stigma and discrimination marginalizes transgender individuals, resulting in an increase in a range of psychosocial stressors (e.g., poverty and homelessness) as well as negative health outcomes (e.g., substance use and psychological distress).[2,3] To create effective programming for transgender communities, it is essential to understand the specific needs and lived realities of these communities as an essential part of the U.S public health discourse.[4].

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Conclusion