Research relating to alcohol use amongst university students primarily examines the effects of binge drinking. Researchers rarely focus on a range of drinking styles including light or non-drinking. This study was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of female, first year UK undergraduates, who do not drink alcohol. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants. Narratives were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; by Smith and Osborn (Sage 51-80, 2003). Three superordinate themes were identified: “managing the feeling that you don’t belong” highlights the importance of managing social interactions as a non-drinker; “experiencing social exclusion” recognises the impact on social bonding as a result of insufficient socialising opportunities; and “experiencing peer pressure and social stigma” highlights the scrutiny and labelling participants endured. These findings provide an understanding of some of the difficulties experienced by these undergraduates as a result of their non-drinking status. Implications of this research are discussed and areas for future research are outlined.

Adults with Gender Dysphoria have shown to be at an increased risk of mental health issues, often as a result of barriers to accessing treatment and experiencing discrimination. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of adults with gender dysphoria seeking treatment in the United Kingdom (UK). Two transgender males and six transgender females participated. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Analysis of the transcripts revealed three superordinate themes: "Accessing Healthcare Services," "Searching for Acceptance," and "Impact of Gender Dysphoria on Psychological Wellbeing," that represented the experience for this population. It is concluded that there is a substantial need for counseling support during and after the treatment seeking process within the UK.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract