Citation

Klein A, Mountz S, Bartle E. J. Soc. Social Work Res. 2018; 9(3): 431-448.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Society for Social Work and Research, Publisher University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/699538

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated discrimination in social-service or social work settings among transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals. This study aims to (a) examine the prevalence and magnitude of discrimination against TGNC individuals and (b) explore the factors associated with discrimination in social-service settings.

METHOD: We examined sociodemographic factors and psychosocial and health-related indicators (suicide attempt ever, substance misuse to cope, HIV positive serostatus, transactional sex, and marginally housed) associated with reports of social-service discrimination in a national sample of transgender adults (age 18-98, M = 36.69, SD = 13.11) from the U.S. and its territories. Data were from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (N = 6,456).

RESULTS: Approximately 16% (n = 952) of the total sample experienced some form of discrimination related to their gender identity/expression in a social-service setting. Participants reporting social-service discrimination were more likely to be non-White, under 45 years of age, lower income, and to report negative psychosocial and/or health-related outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the need for future research to examine individual-, interpersonal-, and structural-level factors associated with access to and use of social services among the transgender and gender-nonconforming community. © 2018 by the Society for Social Work and Research. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Discrimination; Transgender; Health disparities; Social service