Mental Health Disparities Within the LGBT Population: A Comparison Between Transgender and Nontransgender Individuals

Authors

Dejun Su, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Jay A. Irwin, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Christopher Fisher, Curtin University
Athena Ramos, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Megan Kelley, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Diana Ariss Rogel Mendoza, Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership
Jason D. Coleman, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Transgender Health Volume 1.1, 2016 DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2015.0001.

Comments

Copyright Dejun Su et al. 2016; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License.

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed within a Midwestern LGBT population whether, and the extent to which, transgender identity was associated with elevated odds of reported discrimination, depression symptoms, and suicide attempts.

Methods: Based on survey data collected online from respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender persons over the age of 19 in Nebraska in 2010, this study performed bivariate t- or chisquare tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine differences in reported discrimination, depression symptoms, suicide attempts, and self-acceptance of LGBT identity between 91 transgender and 676 nontransgender respondents.

Results: After controlling for the effects of selected confounders, transgender identity was associated with higher odds of reported discrimination (OR = 2.63, p < 0.01), depression symptoms (OR = 2.33, p < 0.05), and attempted suicides (OR = 2.59, p < 0.01) when compared with nontransgender individuals. Self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with substantially lower odds of reporting depression symptoms (OR = 0.46, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Relative to nontransgender LGB individuals, transgender individuals were more likely to report discrimination, depression symptoms, and attempted suicides. Lack of self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with depression symptoms among transgender individuals.