Depression and discrimination in the lives of women, transgender and gender liminal people in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

This article uses an intersectionality lens to explore how experiences of race, gender, sexuality, class and their intersections are associated with depression and unmet need for mental healthcare in a population of 704 women and transgender/gender liminal people from Ontario, Canada. A survey collecting demographic information, information about mental health and use of mental healthcare services, and data for the Everyday Discrimination Scale and the PHQ-9 Questionnaire for Depression was completed by 704 people via Internet or pen-and-paper between June 2011 and June 2012. Bivariate and regression analyses were conducted to assess group differences in depression and discrimination experiences, and predictors of depression and unmet need for mental healthcare services. Analyses revealed that race, gender, class and sexuality all corresponded to significant differences in exposure to discrimination, experiences of depression and unmet needs for mental healthcare. Use of interaction terms to model intersecting identities and exclusion contributed to explained variance in both outcome variables. Everyday discrimination was the strongest predictor of both depression and unmet need for mental healthcare. The results suggest lower income and intersections of race with other marginalised identities are associated with more depression and unmet need for mental healthcare; however, discrimination is the factor that contributes the most to those vulnerabilities. Future research can build on intersectionality theory by foregrounding the role of structural inequities and discrimination in promoting poor mental health and barriers to healthcare.

Exposure to gender-based violence and depressive symptoms among transgender women in Cambodia: findings from the National Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey 2016

“…In addition to being denied these services and opportunities, which is also reported among transgender women in other countries [ 5 ], our study suggests that these discriminatory experiences significantly increase the odds of having depressive symptoms by 1.5 o 2.4 fold. Similar associations between stigma and discrimination victimization on one hand and depression on the other have also been reported in the United States and Canada [ 3 , 8 , 36 , 38 ].…”

“…More recently, researchers have started investigating the confluence of different forms of marginalization on the health and wellbeing of transgender women [ 8 ]. In Colombia, a recent study showed how the intersection of conflict, violence, homonegativity, and ‘social cleansing’ increase the vulnerability of displaced transgender women to HIV [ 9 ].…”

Inconsistent curiosity: Augmentation and blunting of curiosity in daily life and implications for well-being

“…Transgender suicide attempt rates, for example, are nine times the national average (45), often worst among transmasculine youth (46). Predictors of depression among transgender people, exacerbated by intersections of race, gender, class, and sexuality (47), include minority stress, low self-esteem, overt discrimination and victimization, lack of social support, and little or no access to medical transition technologies where desired (48)(49)(50). Given higher rates of depression and lower rates of physical activity (51), the study of curiosity within trans populations requires further study (52).…”

Bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed literature in transgender health (1900 – 2017)

“…However, transgender people are different from lesbians, gays, and bisexuals and might have different health and life experiences than gay and lesbians [ 20 ]. In light of the large numbers of transgender persons and the international efforts to endorse and strengthen human rights of neglected and marginalized groups, analysis of global research activity in transgender health becomes important [ 21 – 29 ]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess peer-reviewed literature in transgender health and present the results in bibliometric tables and maps.…”