Sexual Gender Minority Research Articles

Sexual and gender minority individuals report higher rates of abuse and more severe eating disorder symptoms than cisgender heterosexual individuals at admission to eating disorder treatment.

Eating disorders (EDs) occur at higher rates among sexual/gender minorities (SGMs). We currently know little about the risk factor profile of SGMs entering ED specialty care.ObjectiveTo (a) compare history of abuse‐related risk in SGMs to cisgender heterosexuals (CHs) when entering treatment, (b) determine if SGMs enter and exit treatment with more severe ED symptoms than CHs, and (c) determine if SGMs have different rates of improvement in ED symptoms during treatment compared to CHs.MethodWe analyzed data from 2,818 individuals treated at a large, US‐based, ED center, 471 (17%) of whom identified as SGM. Objective 1 was tested using logistic regression and Objectives 2 and 3 used mixed‐effects models.ResultsSGMs had higher prevalence of sexual abuse (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.71, 2.58), other trauma (e.g., verbal/physical/emotional abuse; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.68, 2.54), and bullying (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.73, 2.62) histories. SGMs had higher global EDE‐Q scores than CHs at admission (γ = 0.42, SE = 0.08, p < .001) but improved faster early in treatment (γ = 0.316, SE = 0.12, p = .008). By discharge, EDE‐Q scores did not differ between SGMs and CHs.DiscussionOur main hypothesis of greater abuse histories among SGMs was supported and could be one explanation of their more severe ED symptoms at treatment admission compared to CHs. In addition, elevated symptom severity in SGMs at admission coincides with greater delay between ED onset and treatment initiation among SGMs—possibly a consequence of difficulties with ED recognition in SGMs by healthcare providers. We recommend increased training for providers on identifying EDs in SGMs to reduce barriers to early intervention.

Intersectional health and wellbeing analysis of racial/ethnic sexual gender minority young adults among an urban minority-serving institution campus community

This paper features an intersectional SWOT analysis conducted at a minority-serving institution within a US Midwest urban setting, to inform the development of harm-reduction services for racial/ethnic sexual gender minority young adults. Our findings revealed the nuances of structured inequities, environmental challenges that are directly linked to access to resources and reduced opportunities to socialize within affirming spaces for racial/ethnic sexual gender minority young adults. The consequence is that those realities influenced their health and wellbeing. Our revelations rationalized the value of culturally-appropriate harm-reduction services and affirmed the distinct realities of racial/ethnic sexual gender minority young adults within the urban university setting.

Barriers and Concerns Regarding Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology: A Program Evaluation

Abstract Objective The Relevance 2050 Initiative’s Student Pipeline Subcommittee and the Board Certification Promotion Committee of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, in collaboration with the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, produced the first installment of a free webinar series to promote early education on board certification (BC) in clinical neuropsychology. A pre-webinar survey was given to inform future webinar topics and initiatives, including identification of specific barriers/concerns about BC. Method A total of 197 respondents completed the survey and self-identified as White (61%), Asian (16%), Hispanic (11%), African American (6%) and Multiracial (6%). Respondents’ demographics, type of doctoral program, program accreditation status, level of interest in pursuing BC, and specific barriers/concerns about BC were collected. Respondents self-identified with the following diverse groups: first-generation college student (19% White, 38% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 16% African American, 41% Multiracial), low SES (8% White, 6% Asian, 36% Hispanic, 33% African American, 33% Multiracial) and sexual gender minority (6% White, 6% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 43% Multiracial). Outcomes Qualitative data analysis of barriers/concerns identified the following themes: money, time, knowledge about BC, training flexibility, breadth of knowledge, training/mentor opportunities, international issues, and documentation. The top three barriers included training/mentor opportunities, training flexibility, and knowledge about BC. More than half of non-White trainees (60%; χ2 = 3.864, p = .049) endorsed training/mentor opportunities as a barrier relative to White trainees (41%), particularly among Hispanic trainees (82%) relative to other minority trainees. Discussion Results highlight the need to increase awareness and information about the BC. Also suggested is prioritization of resources for training/mentor opportunities, particularly for minority trainees.

Depression and Fitness Level in College Students Attending a Diverse University

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and moderate to severe depression (MS_DEP) in college students. The relationships between MS_DEP and age, sex, race, sexual/gender orientation, and grade point average (GPA) were examined. METHODS: This cross-sectional study occurred at a public university via electronic survey. Participants (n=438) reported their age, height, weight, race, sex, sexual orientation, GPA, resting heart rate, exercise habits (frequency, intensity, and duration), and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a standard depression survey. A validated regression model (Nes et al., 2011) was used to calculate eCRF (ml/min/kg). The difference between eCRF and age-predicted CRF was used for analyses. Chi square and independent t-tests determined differences in demographic characteristics between students who reported MS_DEP and students who reported no depression. For odds ratio analyses, MS_DEP was dichotomized (yes/no) and fitness was categorized as FIT (reference), LOW-FIT, and HIGH-FIT. The reference (FIT) represented those with eCRF within -/+ 1, LOW-FIT was <1, and HIGH-FIT >1 of their age-estimated CRF. RESULTS: Chi square analyses indicated fit individuals (=> age-predicted CRF) were less likely than unfit (< age-predicted CRF) to have MS_DEP (36.4% vs. 63.6% respectively) (P = 0.02). Belonging to a sexual gender minority (SGM) (P <0.01) or to the Hispanic race (P=0.04) were also significant for MS_DEP. T-tests revealed that individuals who reported depression were more likely to be younger (P =0.04) or have a lower GPA (P<0.01) than those who reported no depression. Odds ratio analyses found that those with LOW-FIT were 2.39 times more likely to report MS_DEP when compared with the reference (95% CI=1.17-4.87). HIGH-FIT compared with FIT was not significant. CONCLUSION: Students with low fitness are at a higher risk for depression. However, fitness above age-predicted CRF did not decrease susceptibility indicating that an age-appropriate level of fitness is sufficient to reduce depression risk. Also, Hispanic, SGM, and younger students may be more vulnerable. Those with depression have a lower GPA. Estimated CRF could provide a simple method to identify students at-risk for depression.

Health Disparities Among Sexual Gender Minority Women in the United States: A Population-Based Study.

There is a paucity of population-based research to identify health disparities experienced by sexual gender minority (SGM) women. The purpose of this study was to use a population-based data set to understand disparities in access to healthcare, preventive care, and health risk behaviors of lesbian and bisexual women compared to their straight counterparts and to each other. This was a cross-sectional study using the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. SPSS with complex samples was used to calculate weighted descriptive statistics. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds and adjusted odds ratios. 9016 women were included in the analyses. Women who identified as lesbian were more likely to be from a minority group. Bisexual women were more likely to be in the younger age groups and were less likely to be college graduates or report a higher income. Lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to report depression, smoking, and heavy/binge drinking compared to straight women. They were also less likely to have received a pap test. Compare to lesbian women, bisexual women were more likely to report depression and poorer health. SGM women are at greater risk of depression and risky coping behaviors such as smoking and heavy/binge drinking. Within the SGM subgroup, bisexual women have a higher risk for depression and worse general health. Health promotion programs and interventions must be tailored to account for the unique stressors SGM women encounter and associated negative health outcomes.

Mental Health Status of Double Minority Adolescents: Findings from National Cross-Sectional Health Surveys.

Little population-based work has been published about the mental health of adolescents with both sexual/gender (SG) and ethnic minority (i.e. double minority) status. This study aimed to provide an overview on their mental health. Analysis of data from a total of 17,607 high school students from New Zealand's 2007 and 2012 cross-sectional nationally representative Adolescent Health Surveys, including a total of 1306 (7.4%) SG minority participants, of whom 581 (3.3%) were also an ethnic minority. SG minority status, minority ethnicity, and female sex were associated with higher mental distress and poorer well-being. Generally speaking, double minority students reported poorer mental health than SG majority students of the same ethnicity, but reported better mental health than SG minority New Zealand European students. Explanations and future directions for research were suggested to further explore how double minority students negotiate mental health in the context of their communities/cultures in New Zealand.