The Health and Well-Being of Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities in the USA: A Call to Action

Per minority stress theory, sexual and gender minorities are susceptible to bias-related social stressors that can internalize and increase their susceptibility to poor physical and mental health. Parents of transgender/gender-expansive (TGE) children may also encounter a number of stressors on account of their child’s gender experience. No known research had examined how these stressors align within a minority stress framework. This qualitative study examined and characterized minority stress phenomena in a clinically derived sample of English-speaking, cisgender parents of TGE children aged ≤11 years. Study findings included reports of distal and proximal forms of minority stress, with notable impact on health and well-being. Researchers highlight treatment implications and suggest studies continue to examine minority stress in parents of TGE children.

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A Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Alleviate Stress From Discrimination Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities of Color: Protocol for a Pilot Optimization Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35593 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Stephanie H Cook ◽

Erica P Wood ◽

Nicholas Mirin ◽

Michelle Bandel ◽

Maxline Delorme ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Well Being ◽

Mobile App ◽

Optimization Strategy ◽

Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽

New York University ◽

Mindfulness Intervention ◽

Gender Minorities ◽

And Gender ◽

Reducing Stress

BACKGROUND Young sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) of color may face unique experiences of discrimination based on their intersectional positions (eg, discrimination based on both racial or ethnic identity and sexual identity). Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness practices may reduce stress from discrimination and improve overall well-being among young SGM. Moreover, the omnipresence of smartphone access among racial or ethnic and sexual minority communities provides a method through which to administer mindfulness-based interventions among young SGMs of color. OBJECTIVE This paper outlines the protocol of the Optimizing a Daily Mindfulness Intervention to Reduce Stress from Discrimination among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities of Color (REDUCE) study, a pilot optimization trial of a smartphone-based mindfulness intervention that was developed in conjunction with the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) with the aim of reducing stress from discrimination among young SGMs. METHODS In total, 80 young (ages 18-29 years) SGMs of color will be enrolled in the study. The HMP is a self-guided meditation practice, and participants will be randomized to either a control condition or an intervention that uses a neuroscience-based approach to mindfulness. We will use the multiphase optimization strategy to assess which combination of mindfulness interventions is the most effective at reducing stress from discrimination among young SGMs of color. A combination of mindfulness-based meditation intervention components will be examined, comprising mindfulness-based practices of awareness, connection, and purpose. Awareness refers to the practice of self-awareness, which reduces the mind’s ability to be distracted and instead be present in the moment. Connection refers to the practice of connection with oneself and others and emphasizes on empathy and compassion with oneself and others. Purpose encourages goal-making in accordance with one’s values and management of behavior in accordance with these goals. In addition, we will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the HMP application among young SGMs of color. RESULTS The REDUCE study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of New York University, and recruitment and enrollment began in the winter of 2021. We expect to complete enrollment by the summer of 2022. The results will be disseminated via social media, journal articles, abstracts, or presentations, as well as to participants, who will be given the opportunity to provide feedback to the researchers. CONCLUSIONS This optimization trial is designed to test the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of implementing an application-based, mindfulness-based intervention to reduce stress from discrimination and improve well-being among young SGMs of color. Evidence from this study will assist in the creation of a sustainable, culturally relevant mobile app–based mindfulness intervention to reduce stress from discrimination among young SGMs of color. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05131360; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05131360 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/35593

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Beyond the Binary: Sexual and Reproductive Health Considerations for Transgender and Gender Expansive Adolescents

Frontiers in Reproductive Health ◽

10.3389/frph.2021.670919 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Claire E. Lunde ◽

Rebecca Spigel ◽

Catherine M. Gordon ◽

Christine B. Sieberg

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Current Literature ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽

Call To Action ◽

Gender Minorities ◽

And Gender

Awareness and visibility of transgender individuals have grown exponentially. However, conceptualizing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as “women's” or “men's” health services further marginalizes transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) youth. Multiple reviews and commentaries have been published on the topic of SRH care for adults under the umbrella term of sexual and gender minorities, all with a call to action for more inclusive care and the need for more clinical research involving TGE individuals, and notably, TGE youth. Results from adult TGE studies are often translated to describe adolescent models. However, models specific to adolescent TGE populations are needed to understand their unique SRH needs. This review will describe the current literature relating to SRH needs of TGE youth and adults, highlighting key areas with significant disparities in need of further research. This comprehensive summary will also provide recommendations for clinicians and researchers with the goal of improving SRH care and obtaining wider representation in both clinical settings and research directed toward TGE youth.

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Tabulations of Responses from the 2002 Status of the Armed Forces Survey - Workplace and Gender Relations: Volume 1, Demographics, Workplace Information, Readiness, Health and Well-being

10.21236/ada408199 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

James B. Greenlees ◽

Mary Ann Deak ◽

David Rockwell ◽

Kimya S. Lee ◽

Shelley P. Westat

Keyword(s):

Gender Relations ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Well Being ◽

And Gender ◽

Health And Well Being

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Anxiety Disorders among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

The Oxford Handbook of Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190067991.013.6 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 45-57

Author(s):

Brandon J. Weiss ◽

Bethany Owens Raymond

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Minority Status ◽

Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽

Gender Minorities ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Literature Base ◽

Current Assessment ◽

And Gender ◽

Minority Stress Model

Rates of anxiety disorders are significantly elevated among sexual and gender minorities. In this chapter, the minority stress model is discussed as a framework for conceptualizing anxiety among sexual and gender minorities, and the authors review the literature on the relationships between specific minority stressors and symptoms. The authors examine prevalence rates of anxiety disorders among sexual minorities and gender minorities, separately and in comparison to heterosexual and cisgender individuals. Also reviewed is the literature on anxiety disorders among sexual and gender minorities with a racial or ethnic minority status. Current assessment and treatment approaches are identified and reviewed. Finally, limitations to the current literature base are discussed and recommendations are provided for future studies.

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Evidence-Based Landscape Architecture for Human Health and Well-Being

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12041360 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1360 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert D. Brown ◽

Robert C. Corry

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Landscape Architecture ◽

Well Being ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Natural Environments ◽

The People ◽

Outdoor Environments ◽

The Usa ◽

Health And Well Being

More than 80% of the people in the USA and Canada live in cities. Urban development replaces natural environments with built environments resulting in limited access to outdoor environments which are critical to human health and well-being. In addition, many urban open spaces are unused because of poor design. This paper describes case studies where traditional landscape architectural design approaches would have compromised design success, while evidence-based landscape architecture (EBLA) resulted in a successful product. Examples range from school-yard design that provides safe levels of solar radiation for children, to neighborhood parks and sidewalks that encourage people to walk and enjoy nearby nature. Common characteristics for integrating EBLA into private, public, and academic landscape architecture practice are outlined along with a discussion of some of the opportunities and barriers to implementation.

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