Weinhardt Lance S, Stevens Patricia, Xie Hui, Wesp Linda M, John Steven A, Apchemengich Immaculate, Kioko David, Chavez-Korell Shannon, Cochran Katherine M, Watjen Jennifer M, Lambrou Nickolas H
Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Transgend Health. 2017 Oct 1;2(1):140-150. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2017.0020. eCollection 2017.
In this study, we explored experiences and feelings of safety in public facilities in relation to psychological well-being among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth in the Midwest in the summer of 2016, in the context of ongoing legislative proposals and regulations regarding school and public bathroom use in the United States. We used a mixed-method approach, with (1) a self-administered, paper-and-pencil survey of 120 TGNC youth, focusing on differences of self-esteem, resilience, quality of life (QoL), perceived stigma, feelings of safety, and experiences of public facility use and (2) two focus group interviews (=9) in which TGNC youth discussed individual perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of bathroom use outside participants' homes. The samples consisted predominantly of individuals assigned female at birth and currently of trans-masculine identity. TGNC youth in our sample who reported that they had felt unsafe in bathrooms due to appearance or gender identity had significantly lower levels of resilience (mean=125.7 vs. mean=116.1; =0.03, Cohen's =0.44) and QoL (mean=59.1 vs. mean=51.9; =0.04, Cohen's =0.39), compared to those who felt safe. Meanwhile, feeling unsafe in bathrooms was associated with a greater level of perceived LGBT stigma (mean=2.3 vs. mean=2.6; =0.03, Cohen's =0.41) and problematic anxiety in the past year (χ (1)=4.06; =0.04). Individuals in the focus groups provided specific examples of their experiences of and concerns about locker room or bathroom use in public facilities, and on the impact of school bathroom-related policies and legislation on them. Perceptions of safety related to bathroom use are related to psychological well-being among TGNC youth. Our predominantly trans-masculine youth sample indicated that choice of bathroom and locker room use is important and that antiharassment policies need to support students' use of their choice of bathrooms. This is particularly important information given debate of so-called bathroom bills, which attempt to restrict public bathroom use for TGNC youth, creating less choice and more stress and fear among these individuals.
在2016年夏天的美国中西部地区，在关于学校和公共浴室使用的立法提案和规定不断出台的背景下，我们探讨了跨性别及性别不一致（TGNC）青少年在公共设施中的安全体验和感受与心理健康之间的关系。我们采用了混合研究方法，（1）对120名TGNC青少年进行了纸笔式的自填问卷调查，重点关注自尊、恢复力、生活质量（QoL）、感知到的耻辱感、安全感以及公共设施使用体验等方面的差异；（2）进行了两次焦点小组访谈（共9人），TGNC青少年在访谈中讨论了他们在家庭以外使用浴室的个人认知、态度和经历。样本主要由出生时被指定为女性且目前具有跨男性身份的个体组成。我们样本中的TGNC青少年报告称，由于外表或性别认同，他们在浴室中感到不安全，与那些感到安全的青少年相比，他们的恢复力水平显著较低（均值分别为125.7和116.1；p = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.44），生活质量也较低（均值分别为59.1和51.9；p = 0.04, Cohen's d = 0.39）。与此同时，在浴室中感到不安全与更高水平的LGBT耻辱感（均值分别为2.3和2.6；p = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.41）以及过去一年中存在的焦虑问题（χ²(1)=4.06；p = 0.04）相关。焦点小组中的个体提供了他们在公共设施中使用更衣室或浴室的经历和担忧的具体例子，以及学校浴室相关政策和立法对他们的影响。与浴室使用相关的安全感认知与TGNC青少年的心理健康有关。我们以跨男性青少年为主的样本表明，浴室和更衣室的使用选择很重要，反骚扰政策需要支持学生使用他们选择的浴室。鉴于所谓的浴室法案的争论，这是特别重要的信息，这些法案试图限制TGNC青少年使用公共浴室，给这些个体带来更少的选择、更多的压力和恐惧。
