Transgender Youth Substance Use Disparities: Results From a Population-Based Sample

Day, Jack K.; Fish, Jessica N.; Perez-Brumer, Amaya; Hatzenbuehler, Mark L.; Russell, Stephen T.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.06.024

Cited by 266 publications

(201 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

179

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…1–6 Emerging evidence suggests disparities in emotional distress and substance use are partially explained by peer victimization and depressive symptoms, 2,4,7 consistent with the minority stress model. 8,9 Focusing on these disparities masks the reality that some TGD youth are doing well and have supports to thrive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: Protection Against Emotional Distress and Substance Use

Gower

Rider

Brown

et al. 2018

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Important mental and physical health disparities exist for transgender and gender diverse youth compared with cisgender youth (i.e., those whose birth-assigned sex and gender identity align), yet little is known about factors that protect transgender and gender diverse youth from health problems. The objective of this paper is to identify modifiable protective factors in the lives of transgender and gender diverse adolescents, with the goal of informing efforts to eliminate disparities in depression, suicidality, and substance use in this population. Methods: Secondary data analysis of the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey examined associations between eight protective factors (connectedness to parents, adult relatives, friends, adults in the community, and teachers; youth development opportunities; and feeling safe in the community and at schools) and depression, suicidality, and substance use (alcohol, binge drinking, marijuana, nicotine) among 2,168 adolescents who identified as transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, or questioning their gender. Logistic regressions assessed the role of each protective factor separately and simultaneously. Results: Each protective factor was associated with lower odds of emotional distress and substance use. When protective factors were examined simultaneously, parent connectedness was protective for all measures. Feeling safe at school and connected to adults in one‟s community protected against depression and suicidality; teacher connectedness buffered risk of substance use. Conclusions: Given that transgender and gender diverse youth report lower levels of connectedness and safety, bolstering an explicitly transgender and gender diverse–friendly network of caring parents, safe and supportive schools, and connections to adults in the community may support efforts to eliminate disparities in depression, suicidality, and substance use.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: Protection Against Emotional Distress and Substance Use

Gower

Rider

Brown

et al. 2018

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies have shown that TGD youth in particular have elevated risk of emotional distress, substance use and bullying victimisation compared with cisgender adolescents (Clark et al, ; Eisenberg et al, ; Perez‐Brumer, Day, Russell, & Hatzenbuehler, ; Veale, Watson, Peter, & Saewyc, ). Disparities extend to access to and utilisation of healthcare (Clark, Veale, Greyson, & Saewyc, ; Day, Fish, Perez‐Brumer, Hatzenbuehler, & Russell, ; Eisenberg et al, ; Rider, McMorris, Gower, Coleman, & Eisenberg, ; Veale et al, ). As adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth, identity development and establishment of lasting health behaviours (Sawyer et al, ; Shlafer et al, ), going without healthcare during this period can result in unchecked health behaviours that contribute to chronic disease (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s kind of hard to go to the doctor’s office if you’re hated there.” A call for gender‐affirming care from transgender and gender diverse adolescents in the United States

Eisenberg

McMorris

Rider

et al. 2020

Health Soc Care Community

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Research has identified discrimination and a lack of knowledgeable providers as major barriers for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals seeking care, which contributes to greater stress and significant health disparities affecting this population. However, research involving TGD youth is limited. The aim of this study, therefore, was to describe TGD adolescents’ experiences, concerns and needs in healthcare settings, including their feedback on themes previously identified by healthcare providers (i.e. discomfort with gender‐related topics, reasons for not asking patients about gender and previous training regarding gender diversity). The authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with 12 TGD‐identified adolescents aged 14–17, living in Minnesota, USA in 2017–2018. Inductive thematic analysis was used to summarise participant comments into themes and subthemes. Two main themes were directly relevant to concerns and needs of TGD youth in healthcare settings and their views on healthcare providers’ concerns: (a) asking about gender and pronouns and (b) training for healthcare providers. Findings suggest the need for revisions to clinic materials, infrastructure and protocols. Adding training to all general medical and nursing education to increase knowledge, comfort and competence around gender identity would further improve care and ultimately reduce healthcare disparities affecting TGD youth.

show abstract

“…A well-established body of literature has documented disparities in substance use for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)* young people. [1][2][3][4][5] Although substance use in and of itself is not always problematic, research has indicated that harmful substance use behaviors (e.g., drinking heavily) among adolescents have been linked to academic, physical, and social problems. 6 Growing evidence indicates that dis-parities in substance use behaviors are widening for some sexual minority (e.g., LGB) young people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations Between Community-Level LGBTQ-Supportive Factors and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: Using representative school-based data and community-level primary data, we investigated how environmental factors (e.g., school and community climate) might be protective against substance use behaviors among a vulnerable population of adolescents. Methods: We analyzed a sample of 2678 sexual minority adolescents using a combination of student-level data (British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey) and primary community-level data (assessing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer [LGBTQ]-specific community and school environments). Using multilevel logistic regression models, we examined associations between lifetime substance use (alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, and smoking) and community-level predictors (community and school LGBTQ supportiveness). Results: Above and beyond student characteristics (e.g., age and years living in Canada), sexual minority adolescents residing in communities with more LGBTQ supports (i.e., more supportive climates) had lower odds of lifetime illegal drug use (for boys and girls), marijuana use (for girls), and smoking (for girls). Specifically, in communities with more frequent LGBTQ events (such as Pride events), the odds of substance use among sexual minority adolescents living in those communities was lower compared with their counterparts living in communities with fewer LGBTQ supports. Conclusions: The availability of LGBTQ community-level organizations, events, and programs may serve as protective factors for substance use among sexual minority adolescents. In particular, LGBTQ-supportive community factors were negatively associated with substance use, which has important implications for our investment in community programs, laws, and organizations that advance the visibility and rights of LGBTQ people.

show abstract

Transgender Youth Substance Use Disparities: Results From a Population-Based Sample

Cited by 266 publications

References 26 publications

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: Protection Against Emotional Distress and Substance Use

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: Protection Against Emotional Distress and Substance Use

“It’s kind of hard to go to the doctor’s office if you’re hated there.” A call for gender‐affirming care from transgender and gender diverse adolescents in the United States

Associations Between Community-Level LGBTQ-Supportive Factors and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About