TY - JOUR
T1 - Transgender Adults' Public Bathroom-Related Stressors and Their Association with Depressive Symptoms
T2 - A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea
AU - Lee, Hyemin
AU - Yi, Horim
AU - Rider, G. Nic
AU - Operario, Don
AU - Choo, Sungsub
AU - Kim, Ranyeong
AU - Eom, Yun Jung
AU - Kim, Seung Sup
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was partially supported by the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea. This study was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2020R1A6A3A13060799).
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2021.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
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. 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. 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.
AB - 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. 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. 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.
KW - South Korea
KW - depressive symptoms
KW - gender minority
KW - public bathrooms
KW - suicidality
KW - transgender individuals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117885291&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/lgbt.2021.0007
DO - 10.1089/lgbt.2021.0007
M3 - Article
C2 - 34242110
AN - SCOPUS:85117885291
SN - 2325-8292
VL - 8
SP - 486
EP - 493
JO - LGBT Health
JF - LGBT Health
IS - 7
ER -
