Health Care Experiences of Transgender Binary and Nonbinary University Students

Bibliographic Data

ID8912909
AuthorsA E Goldberg (0000-0001-7654-4539, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA, corresponding author), Katherine A Kuvalanka (Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA), Stephanie L Budge (0000-0001-9948-2422, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA), Madeline B Benz (0000-0002-8679-3771, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA), Jonathan Z Smith (0000-0002-1127-3712, Amherst College), Julianna Z Smith (Independent Practice, Amherst, MA, USA)
Year2019
Volume47
Issue1
Pages59-97
Publication date2019-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Counseling Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-0000 • E-ISSN: 1552-3861
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0011000019827568
OpenAlexW2921412384
LanguageEN
Citations received39
References cited42

An increasing number of young adults identify with nonbinary gender identities. Yet health providers and therapists often lack understanding of such identities. In this mixed-methods study of 506 transgender undergraduate and graduate students, most of whom (75%) had nonbinary gender identities, we aimed to understand participants’ mental health and health care experiences, and factors related to misgendering and less affirming treatment by providers. Eighty-five percent of participants reported mental health challenges, and named fear of violence and nonsupport as distal stressors. Experiences with therapists and health providers were mixed. Salient features of negative interactions were invalidation, avoidance, or overemphasis in regard to participants’ nonbinary identities. Participants viewed counseling services as more affirming than health services. Nonbinary students reported more misgendering by therapists and health providers, and less trans-affirming care by health service providers, compared to binary students. Undergraduate students reported more misgendering by therapists and health providers than graduate students

Gender identity · Health care · Medical education · Mental health · Psychotherapist · Service (business · Service provider · Stressor · Transgender · Clinical Psychology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology