TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Transgender Adults' Public Bathroom-Related Stressors and Their Association with Depressive Symptoms: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea
JO  - LGBT health
A1  - Lee, Hyemin
A1  - Yi, Horim
A1  - Rider, G. Nic
A1  - Operario, Don
A1  - Choo, Sungsub
A1  - Kim, Ranyeong
A1  - Eom, Yun-Jung
A1  - Kim, Seung-Sup
SP  - 486
EP  - 493
VL  - 8
IS  - 7
N2  - PURPOSE: This study assessed public bathroom-related stressors and examined their association with depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among transgender individuals in South Korea. <br><br>METHODS: We analyzed data from a nationwide cross-sectional survey of 557 South Korean transgender adults (age range: 19-60 years) conducted in October 2020. Participants were asked nine yes/no questions about whether they have ever experienced public bathroom-related stressors within the last 12 months. The responses were classified into three categories: "never experienced," "avoidant behaviors alone," and "victimization experiences." Results: The proportions of participants who reported "avoidant behaviors alone" and "victimization experiences" related to public bathroom use were 47.0% and 23.0%, respectively. Past-week prevalence of depressive symptoms was 70.7%, and past 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was 63.0% and 19.8%, respectively. Compared with participants who "never experienced" public bathroom-related stressors, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was statistically significantly higher among those who reported "avoidant behaviors alone" (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.40) and "victimization experiences" (aPR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.01-1.38), after adjusting for covariates, including gender perception by others. In the same adjusted model, however, no significant associations of public bathroom-related stressors with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were observed. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Given these findings showing that public bathroom-related stressors may negatively influence transgender adults' depressive symptoms, efforts are necessary to ensure their safe access to public bathrooms in South Korea. Furthermore, policy-level interventions are needed to eliminate stigma against transgender individuals, given that public bathroom-related stressors could be considered an indicator of broader anti-transgender stigma.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2325-8292
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2021.0007
ID  - ref1
ER  -