ABSTRACT

Transgender identities are becoming increasingly common in the United States, and existing research provides ample evidence that risky sexual behaviors, substance use, and suicidality are prevalent experiences among transgender persons. Yet, prior research provides little insight into understanding the specific mechanisms that may promote deviant outcomes among transgender persons. Drawing from an aspect of general strain theory, the goal of this study is to examine the extent to which transwomen and transmen vary in risky sexual behaviors, substance use, and suicidality, and to explore the degree to which discrimination – as a source of strain – plays a role within this process. An analysis of data from transgender individuals from the Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study (THIS) demonstrates that transwomen and transmen significantly diverge in self-reported risky sexual behaviors, substance use, and suicidality. Greater discrimination based on transgender identity relates to significantly increased odds of suicidality and elevated levels of substance use, but does not relate to risky sexual behavior. Overall, effects of discrimination on each outcome are similar for both transwomen and transmen.

摘要

跨性别身份在美国变得越来越普遍，现有研究提供了充分的证据表明，危险的性行为、药物使用和自杀是跨性别者中普遍存在的经历。然而，之前的研究对理解可能导致跨性别者出现异常结果的具体机制知之甚少。从一般压力理论的一个方面出发，本研究的目的是检验跨性别女性和跨性别男性在危险性行为、药物使用和自杀倾向方面的差异程度，并探讨歧视作为压力来源的程度– 在此过程中发挥作用。对来自弗吉尼亚跨性别者健康倡议研究 (THIS) 的跨性别者数据的分析表明，跨性别者和跨性别者在自我报告的危险性行为、药物使用和自杀倾向方面存在显着差异。基于跨性别身份的更大歧视与自杀几率的显着增加和物质使用水平的升高有关，但与危险的性行为无关。总的来说，歧视对每个结果的影响对于跨性别女性和跨性别男性来说是相似的。