Social Work Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Transgender Individuals’ Access To College Housing And Bathrooms: Findings From The National Transgender Discrimination Survey, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Within higher education settings, transgender people are at risk for discrimination and harassment within housing and bathrooms. Yet, few have examined this topic using quantitative data or compared the experiences of subgroups of transgender individuals to predict denial of access to these spaces. The current study utilizes the National Transgender Discrimination Survey to research this issue. Findings indicate that being transgender and having another marginalized identity matters for students’ access to housing and bathrooms. Trans women are at greater risk than gender-nonconforming people for being denied access to school housing and bathrooms. Implications for practice and research are detailed.

Recommendations Of Transgender Students, Staff, And Faculty In The Usa For Improving College Campuses, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Research indicates that transgender individuals frequently experience marginalization and interpersonal victimization within college and university settings. Missing from the literature is a discussion of what can be done to address such patterns in higher education, based upon empirical data gathered from transgender and gender non-conforming students, staff, and faculty. The present study aims to fill this gap by reporting on solutions offered by a sample of 30 individuals in one U.S. state while integrating a lens of intersectionality. Five resulting themes include: (a) offer education, campus programming, and support for trans individuals; (b) improve university systems and procedures for recording …