Stressors in health care and their association to symptoms experienced by gender diverse people

Abstract

Objectives: Many individuals whose gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth (gender diverse [GD] people) report stressful health care encounters. We examined the relationship of these stressors to symptoms of emotional distress and impaired physical functioning among GD people.

Study design: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design with data from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey.

Methods: Composite metrics of health care stressors and physical impairments were developed, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6) provided a measure of emotional distress. Linear and logistic regression were used to analyze the aims.

Results: A total of 22,705 participants from diverse gender identity subgroups were included. Participants who experienced at least one stressor in health care during the past 12 months had more symptoms of emotional distress (β = 0.14, P < .001) and 85% greater odds of having a physical impairment (odds ratio = 1.85, P < .001). Transgender men exposed to stressors were more likely than transgender women to experience emotional distress and have a physical impairment, with other gender identity subgroups reporting less distress. Black participants exposed to stressful encounters reported more symptoms of emotional distress than White participants.

Conclusions: The results suggest that stressful encounters in health care are associated with symptoms of emotional distress and greater odds of physical impairment for GD people, with transgender men and Black individuals being at greatest risk of emotional distress. The findings indicate the need for assessment of factors that contribute to discriminatory or biased health care for GD people, education of health care workers, and support for GD people to reduce their risk of stressor-related symptoms.

Keywords: Healthcare system; Mental health; Physical health; Sexual and gender minority.