Date of Award

1-1-2020

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

John E. Pachankis

Second Advisor

Christy L. Olezeski

Abstract

Parental and caregiver support has been shown to be a protective factor against poor mental health in transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth. However, little is known about how race and ethnicity might affect this relationship. This study extends the literature by examining whether the associations between parental support and mental health outcomes are moderated by race. A clinic-based sample of 81 TGE youth (mean age = 15.31, SD = 1.61) completed assessments of their anxiety and depression symptoms. Caregiver support scores were gathered from youth and the caregivers themselves. Results show that TGE youth of color have decreased odds of anxiety and depression when they feel supported by their caregivers. Decreased levels of anxiety in TGE youth of color were also found when their caregivers reported higher levels of support. This was not found true for Non-Latinx, White youth, for whom no significant relationship existed between caregiver support and mental health. These findings suggest the important role of caregiver support in the mental health of TGE youth of color and call for future studies of interventions to foster such support.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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