The “triple whammy”

Serious psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and substance misuse among transgender persons

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21284358
AutoresHugh Klein (0000-0002-1764-668X, California State University, Long Beach, autor correspondente), Thomas Alex Washington (0000-0001-8008-7502, California State University, Long Beach)
Ano2023
Volume241
Páginas104092
Data de publicação2023-11-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoActa Psychologica (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104092
PMID38000363
OpenAlexW4388961845
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas67

This paper examines the conjoint effects of serious psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse among transgender adults. The principal aims are to determine the prevalence of this “triple whammy,” identify the factors underlying the co-occurrence of all three problems, and to determine if there is evidence of syndemic effects underlying the “triple whammy.” Data from the 2015 U.S. National Transgender Survey were used to examine the “triple whammy” relationship in a sample of 27,715 transgender Americans aged 18 or older. Odds ratios and multivariate logistic regression were performed to examine the data. 13.3 % of the study participants reported experiencing serious psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. The most potent predictors of the “triple whammy” were younger age, a greater number of anti-transgender experiences, and not reaching various transition milestones. Strong evidence emerged to indicate the presence of syndemic effects in operation. Experiencing the combination of adverse mental health and substance abuse was not uncommon in this population of transgender adults. Being young, experiencing a larger variety of types of anti-transgender discrimination, harassment, and violence, and not reaching specific transition milestones all had a significant impact on the odds that people would experience the “triple whammy.” This was particularly true when these measures were examined in conjunction with one another, because of strong syndemic effects. • Approximately 1 transgender person in 8 reported experiencing the “triple whammy” of serious psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorder. • Reaching various transition-related milestones was related to experiencing the “triple whammy.” • Experiencing more anti-transgender discrimination, harassment, and/or violence was associated with an increased risk of experiencing the “triple whammy.” • Age, reaching versus not reaching the various transition milestones, and anti-transgender experiences interacted with one another in a syndemic manner

Distress · Environmental health · Harassment · Logistic regression · Mental health · Odds · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Public health · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Syndemic · Transgender · Clinical Psychology · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology