Social Work Commons^™

“We’Ll Dance Harder And Love Deeper”: Lgbtqia+ Resilience And Resistance During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kristie L. Seelman, Brendon Holloway, Grace Macintyre, Elizabeth Mynatt

SW Publications

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Two years into the pandemic, there have been over one million COVID-19 deaths in the United States alone. While the pandemic has impacted everyone, the most extreme impacts have been experienced by marginalized communities, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Although LGBTQIA+ people have faced the negative impacts of the pandemic, the LGBTQIA+ community may be well equipped to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic due to the historic and current societal oppression this community has endured. Using both a resilience and resistance framework, …

History Of Sex Work Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Adverse Mental Health And Substance Use Outcomes In Transgender Adults, Ajay Keshav Pandey, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Understanding factors influencing mental health and substance use in transgender and gender diverse people is critical to reducing disparities in this population. We sought to investigate whether a history of sex work was associated with increased prevalence of poor mental health, substance use, and a negative experience within drug and alcohol treatment facilities. We conducted a secondary analysis of the data of 25,204 transgender respondents of the 2015 United States Transgender Survey. We estimated multiple logistic regressions to assess the association between a history of sex work and adverse mental health and substance use outcomes. We then estimated mean prevalence …

“Like Pouring Salt In A Wound”: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Consequences Of Unmet Housing Needs For Cancer Patients And Survivors In New York City, Serena Phillips, Sarah E. Raskin, Cherise Harrington, Darla Bishop, Francesca M. Gany

SW Publications

Objective: To identify consequences of unmet housing needs in the period following cancer diagnosis.

Design: Qualitative descriptive design. Participants: New York City-based cancer patients and survivors (n=21) who reported experience of unmet housing needs while receiving cancer treatment. Key informants (n=9) with relevant expertise (e.g. oncology social workers).

Methods: One-time semi-structured telephone or in-person interviews were conducted with all participants. Inductive thematic coding was conducted using a pragmatic paradigm.

Findings: Four categories of consequences emerged: 1) cancer management and health (rest and recovery, illness/injury risk, medical care); 2) psychological (stress and anxiety, lack of control and independence, self-esteem/pride, sadness/depression, …

Exploring The Experiences Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Adults In Accessing A Trans Knowledgeable Primary Care Physician, Shanna K. Kattari, Jarrod Call, Brendon Holloway, Leonardo Kattari, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Transgender and gender diverse individuals face a variety of barriers when attempting to access healthcare, from discrimination to lack of access to lack of knowledgeable providers. Using data from the 2015 United States Trans Survey (N = 27,715), this study looks at the differences within the TGD population regarding having seen a doctor in the past year, having a primary care provider, and having a primary care provider who is knowledgeable about trans health. Logistic regressions indicate that even within an all transgender and gender diverse sample, a variety of identities and experiences are related to increased or decreased likelihood …

Reconceptualizing The Knowledge Base: The Imperative For Critical Theories And Perspectives In Social Work Education, Kristie L. Seelman, Elizabeth L. Beck, Shane R. Brady, Karimah Dillard, William Lane

SW Publications

As the U.S. continues to grapple with the need for a racial reckoning, and with a growth of progressive voices and movements-especially those lead by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-now is an important time to re-examine social work's knowledge base. Students, researchers, and practitioners need the tools to challenge hegemony, inequity, injustice, and White supremacy from a structural position. Critical theory is an important tool for such work, yet it is not well integrated into social work textbooks, and many students still have limited exposure to it. In this paper, we explore critical theory's roots and evolution and discuss …

Digital Technologies And The Violent Surveillance Of Nonbinary Gender, Jama Shelton, Kel Kroehle, Emilie Clark, Kristie L. Seelman, Sj Dodd

SW Publications

The enforcement of the gender binary is a root cause of gender-based violence for trans people. Disrupting gender-based violence requires we ensure “gender” is not presumed synonymous with white cisgender womanhood. Transfeminists suggest that attaining gender equity requires confronting all forms of oppression that police people and their bodies, including white supremacy, colonialism, and capitalism (Silva & Ornat, 2016; Simpkins, 2016). Part of this project, we argue, includes confronting the structures of gender-based violence embedded within digital technologies that are increasingly part of our everyday lives. Informed by transfeminist theory (Koyama, 2003; Simpkins, 2016; Stryker & Bettcher, 2016; Weerawardhana, 2018), …

Predictors Of Healthcare Mistreatment Among Transgender And Gender Diverse Individuals: Are There Different Patterns By Patient Race And Ethnicity?, Kristie L. Seelman, Andre Vasi, Shanna K. Kattari, Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez

SW Publications

Using data from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey, this study investigates which patient sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial risks are associated with likelihood of transgender mistreatment in healthcare and how patterns vary for patients of color. Numerous predictors, including alignment of identity documents, were associated with healthcare mistreatment. Among subgroups of transgender patients of color, psychosocial risks were more consistently significant than sociodemographic characteristics in predicting mistreatment. National and international health organizations are called to enact clear policies that affirm transgender patients and patients of color and establish a commitment to effectively serving these populations within their ethical codes.

Trans Men’S Access To Knowledgeable Providers And Their Experiences In Health Care Settings: Differences By Demographics, Mental Health, And Degree Of Being “Out” To Providers, Kristie L. Seelman, Shanna K. Kattari, Penny Harvey, Matthew Bakko

SW Publications

Transgender adults face a health care system rife with stigma, including a lack of culturally responsive providers and high likelihood of discrimination and mistreatment. However, there is a gap in knowledge about trans men—those assigned a female sex at birth who identify as men or as transmasculine—including subgroups, such as trans men of color. Using data from the U.S. Transgender Survey, the largest transgender survey conducted in the United States, this study analyzes whether trans men’s access to knowledgeable providers and their experiences of mistreatment in health care were related to demographic and mental health characteristics and degree of being …

Strategies Used By Transmasculine And Non-Binary Adults Assigned Female At Birth To Resist Transgender Stigma In Healthcare, Kristie L. Seelman, Tonia C. Poteat

SW Publications

Background: Transgender stigma is rampant within healthcare systems in the United States. Transgender adults assigned female at birth – including those identifying as transmasculine or non-binary – face unique barriers, such as stigma when accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare labeled as being for “women.” However, transgender and non-binary people are not passive victims to this stigma, and the medical community would benefit from understanding the actions this population takes to resist and reduce transgender stigma in healthcare. Yet, little research has attempted to understand such actions.

Aims: This qualitative study aims to explore how transmasculine and non-binary adults are actively …

Do Anti-Bullying Laws Reduce In-School Victimization, Fear-Based Absenteeism, And Suicidality For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Questioning Youth?, Kristie L. Seelman, Mary Beth Walker

SW Publications

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are at heightened risk for bullying and other forms of in-school victimization. Anti-bullying laws are a potential policy mechanism for addressing this issue, yet there has been little investigation of the impact of such policies for this population using generalizable samples or quasi-experimental designs. The current study explores whether the presence of state anti-bullying laws predicts lower likelihood of bullying victimization, fear-based absenteeism, in-school threats or injury with a weapon, and suicidality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning high school students in the United States. Based on Youth Risk Behavior Survey data across 22 states …

Motivations For Advance Care And End-Of-Life Planning Among Lgb Older Adults, Kristie L. Seelman, Terri Lewinson, Lily Engleman, Allex Allen

SW Publications

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience health disparities, discrimination from healthcare providers based on sexual orientation, and rejection from their family of origin, all of which can complicate medical care and decision making, as well as end-of-life arrangements. Yet, relatively few studies of LGB seniors have looked at motivations for advance care and end-of-life planning, which are strategies that can help ensure that healthcare treatment and end-of-life wishes are enacted as desired. The present qualitative study investigated this topic with a purposive sample of nine LGB and same-gender-loving adults in …

The Apparatus Of Social Reproduction: Uncovering The Work Functions Of Transgender Women, William A. Lane, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

The apparatus of social reproduction describes the process by which knowledge production contributes to oppressive conditions. This article explains and defines this process through the application of a critical theoretical lens informed the Foucauldian concept of apparatus or dispositif and social reproduction as developed by feminist activists and intellectuals. This process has a notable influence on the political economic conditions of transgender women, conditions that include disproportionate reliance on the use of criminalized economies such as sex work. Social workers inadvertently influence this process through an overreliance on broad categorizations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer populations, which impede …

Differences In Mental, Cognitive, And Functional Health By Sexual Orientation Among Older Women: Analysis Of The 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Background and Objectives: This study addresses a gap in the knowledge base regarding whether there are differences in mental, cognitive, and functional health between sexual minority women aged 65 and older and their heterosexual counterparts, as well as whether disparities are moderated by age, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.

Research Design and Methods: This study analyzes 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 21 states. Multivariate logistic regression is used to test the hypotheses.

Results: Compared to heterosexual women, lesbian/gay women aged 65 and older report worse functional health and bisexual women report worse cognitive health and more difficulties with …

Do Transgender Men Have Equal Access To Health Care And Engagement In Preventive Health Behaviors Compared To Cisgender Adults?, Kristie L. Seelman, Jordan F. Miller, Zoe E. R. Fawcett, Logan Cline

SW Publications

Based on data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this study looks at whether transgender men have the same rates of health care access and engagement in preventive health behaviors as cisgender adults in the U.S. and whether race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and rural residence moderate these relationships. While there are some differences for transgender men, these differences no longer reach statistical significance after controlling for other sociodemographic factors. Rural residence and having less education are significant moderators for some models related to health care access and preventive health. We detail implications for social workers within health care settings,

The Importance Of Psychoneuroimmunology For Social Workers, Jill Littrell

SW Publications

A wealth of information regarding how the immune system can influence the brain and result in changes in mood and behavior has accumulated. Inflammation is a causal factor in some cases of major depression and psychotic disorders, and predicts whether trauma will result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Fortunately, studies in the area of psychoneuroimmunology have also suggested ways to decrease inflammation. Knowledge of this information is vital for social workers so that the impact of their interventions can be maximized. Moreover, for macro-practice social workers the information underscores the importance of access to nutritional food, access to safe …

Transgender Noninclusive Healthcare And Delaying Care Because Of Fear: Connections To General Health And Mental Health Among Transgender Adults, Kristie L. Seelman, Matthew J.P. Colón-Diaz, Rebecca H. Lecroix, Marik Xavier-Brier, Leonardo Kattari

SW Publications

Purpose: There are many barriers to reliable healthcare for transgender people that often contribute to delaying or avoiding needed medical care. Yet, few studies have examined whether noninclusive healthcare and delaying needed medical care because of fear of discrimination are associated with poorer health among transgender adults. This study aims to address these gaps in the knowledge base.

Methods: This study analyzed secondary data from a statewide survey of 417 transgender adults in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. Independent variables included noninclusive healthcare from a primary care provider (PCP) and delay of needed medical care because of …

From Evidence-Based Policies To Positive Outcomes: How To Fund What Really Works In Child Welfare, Susan Snyder

SW Publications

No abstract provided.

Coping Strategies Used By Lgb Older Adults In Facing And Anticipating Health Challenges: A Narrative Analysis, Kristie L. Seelman, Terri Lewinson, Lily Engleman, Olivia Maley, Alex Allen

SW Publications

Given that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults face notable health disparities compared to their heterosexual counterparts, there is a need for understanding how LGB adults cope with health challenges in late life. The current study analyzes narratives from nine LGB adults age 65 and older living in an urban area in the Southeast U.S. Participants spoke of coping strategies related to health promotion behaviors, shifting perspectives of health and body, trusting in spirituality for comfort, and accepting the end of life. We discuss implications for social services professionals who work with older LGB adults and for future research.

Interventions For Healthy Aging Among Mature Black Lesbians: Recommendations Gathered Through Community-Based Research, Kristie L. Seelman, Mary Anne Adams, Tonia C. Poteat

SW Publications

Black lesbians have unique needs for gerontological services that reflect their experiences of intersectional oppression and resilience. Yet, there is a major knowledge gap about interventions that promote healthy aging in this population as voiced by Black lesbians themselves. To address this need, 100 Black lesbians, ranging in age from 41 to 91, participated in focus groups in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss their experiences of aging, health needs, and recommendations for interventions. Through thematic analysis, we identified six themes related to suggested approaches for healthy aging interventions. We discuss implications of these findings for aging practice and future research.

Victimization And Microaggressions Targeting Lgbtq College Students: Gender Identity As A Moderator Of Psychological Distress, Kristie L. Seelman, Michael R. Woodford, Z Nicolazzo

SW Publications

LGBTQ discrimination continues to be common on college campuses. While a number of studies have examined blatant victimization among students, little attention has been given to LGBTQ microaggressions. In this study, we examine both blatant victimization and microaggressions and their association with psychological distress among LGBTQ college students (N=497) and look at whether gender identity moderates these relationships. Both forms of discrimination are associated with lower self-esteem and greater stress and anxiety. Victimization is more negatively associated with self-esteem among trans* students. Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing both blatant and subtle forms of discrimination targeting LGBTQ college students.

A Comparison Of Health Disparities Among Transgender Adults In Colorado (Usa) By Race And Income, Kristie L. Seelman, Sarah R. Young, Megan Tesene, Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, Leo Kattari

SW Publications

Transgender individuals face heightened risks for discrimination, harassment, and violence that impact their psychosocial well-being and physical health. However, few studies have thoroughly examined the general physical and mental health of transgender adults or within-group health differences by race/ethnicity and income. To that end, after controlling for health insurance status, age, and engagement in exercise, this study asks: (a) Are transgender people of color more likely than White transgender individuals to experience poor health outcomes? and (b) Is lower annual household income among transgender adults associated with poorer health outcomes? The study analyzes secondary data from a survey of transgender …

Transgender Adults’ Access To College Bathrooms And Housing And The Relationship To Suicidality, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Transgender and gender non-conforming people frequently experience discrimination, harassment, and marginalization across college and university campuses (Bilodeau, 2007; Finger, 2010; Rankin, et al., 2010; Seelman et al., 2012). The minority stress model (Meyer, 2007) posits that experiences of discrimination often negatively impact the psychological well-being of minority groups. However, few scholars have examined whether college institutional climate factors—such as being denied access to bathrooms or gender-appropriate campus housing—are significantly associated with detrimental psychological outcomes for transgender people. Using the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, this study analyzes whether being denied access to these spaces is associated with lifetime suicide attempts, after …

Expanding Access To Medication Assisted Treatment: The U.S. Government’S Response To The Current Heroin Epidemic, Jill Littrell

SW Publications

The rates of heroin addiction and opiate overdoses have skyrocketed in America in the last decade. The government’s response is to expand the availability of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Because social workers can be expected to be a significant component of the workforce in providing MAT, MAT is relevant to social workers. Many social workers who are working in the area of addictions do not hold favorable views of MAT. This paper considers their objections and evaluates the validity of the basis for these objections. The rationale for the government’s approach is provided and validity of the rationale for the …

Diagnostic Criteria For Problematic Internet Use Among U.S. University Students: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation, Wen Li, Jennifer E. O'Brien, Susan Snyder, Matthew O. Howard

SW Publications

Empirical studies have identified increasing rates of problematic Internet use worldwide and a host of related negative consequences. However, researchers disagree as to whether problematic Internet use is a subtype of behavioral addiction. Thus, there are not yet widely accepted and validated diagnostic criteria for problematic Internet use. To address this gap, we used mixed-methods to examine the extent to which signs and symptoms of problematic Internet use mirror DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, gambling disorder, and Internet gaming disorder. A total of 27 university students, who self-identified as intensive Internet users and who reported Internet-use-associated health and/or …

Diagnostic Criteria For Problematic Internet Use Among U.S. University Students: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation, Wen Li, Jennifer E. O'Brien, Susan Snyder, Matthew O. Howard

SW Publications

Empirical studies have identified increasing rates of problematic Internet use worldwide and a host of related negative consequences. However, researchers disagree as to whether problematic Internet use is a subtype of behavioral addiction. Thus, there are not yet widely accepted and validated diagnostic criteria for problematic Internet use. To address this gap, we used mixed-methods to examine the extent to which signs and symptoms of problematic Internet use mirror DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, gambling disorder, and Internet gaming disorder. A total of 27 university students, who self-identified as intensive Internet users and who reported Internet-use-associated health and/or …

The Effect Of U.S. University Students' Problematic Internet Use On Family Relationships: A Mixed-Methods Investigation, Susan Snyder, Wen Li, Jennifer E. O'Brien, Matthew O. Howard

SW Publications

This is the first study to investigate how college students in the U.S. with problematic Internet use perceive the role the Internet plays within their families of origin. The sample included 27 U.S. university students who self-identified as excessive Internet users. Participants reported spending more than 25 hours a week on the Internet on non-school or non-work-related activities and reported Internet-associated health and/or psychosocial problems. This study provides descriptive statistics from participants' completion of two problematic Internet use measures (i.e., Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale) and reports findings from four focus groups. Three themes emerged from …

Patterns Of Inhalant Use Among Incarcerated Youth, Susan Snyder, Matthew O. Howard

SW Publications

Inhalant use is especially prevalent among antisocial youth and can have serious health consequences. However, the extant literature has not investigated how use of various inhalants may co-occur among incarcerated youth. This study begins to address this gap in the literature by using latent class analyses to form distinct typologies of inhalant use. Study participants were residents (N = 723) of 27 Missouri Division of Youth Services facilities. Interviews assessed psychiatric symptoms, antisocial traits, delinquency, trauma, suicidality, and substance use behaviors. The mean age of the mostly male, ethnically diverse sample was 15.5 (S.D. = 1.2) years old. The study …

School Engagement Among Lgbtq High School Students: The Roles Of Safe Adults And Gay-Straight Alliance Characteristics, Kristie L. Seelman, Nicholas Forge, N. Eugene Walls, Nadine Bridges

SW Publications

Student school engagement, or the person-environment fit between a student and the student’s school, is a construct that has received increasing attention in the school psychology literature in recent years. However, little research has examined this construct among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) students or analyzed whether factors such as access to safe adults, the presence of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), characteristics of a GSA, or personal involvement in a GSA may connect to engagement. The current study used sequential multiple regression to examine data from a sample of LGBTQ high school students (N = 152) from …

Unequal Treatment Of Transgender Individuals In Domestic Violence And Rape Crisis Programs, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Transgender people often face barriers in accessing culturally competent domestic violence and rape crisis services, yet few studies have used a national sample of transgender people to study this topic or examine differential rates of discrimination within this population. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey, conducted in 2008-2009 by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, collected data about discrimination affecting transgender people across a variety of settings. The present study involves secondary data analysis of this dataset to examine whether certain sociodemographic factors and psychosocial risks are significant predictors of unequal treatment of …

Underserved Adoptive Families: Disparities In Postadoption Access To Information, Resources, And Services, Robin M. Hartinger-Saunders

SW Publications

Parents who adopt children from the U.S. foster care system typically do so with assurances from the state that postadoption services will be accessible by the family, if needed, after the adoption is finalized. From the state’s perspective, the foremost purpose of these services is to ensure that the family remains intact, thereby avoiding adoption dissolution—a traumatic and costly outcome whereby the child is returned to state custody. This study looks specifically at underserved adoptive families—those who report needing specific services after adoption finalization, yet who are then unable to access these needed services through the state because of various …