Yasami Mehri, Zhu Hongrui, Dewan Mayukh
Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, 80 Moo 1 Vichitsongkram Road, Amphur Kathu, 83120 Phuket, Thailand.
International College for Sustainability Studies, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sex Res Social Policy. 2023 Feb 2:1-17. doi: 10.1007/s13178-023-00793-4.
Thai gay men and transgender women (GM&TGW) sex workers are more likely to suffer from economic harm since the sex tourism industry in Thailand has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. They also are more likely to experience poverty and mental health issues subsequent to the pandemic as minority groups in conservative Thai society. While their highly problematic social and economic situation would predict a wide range of psychological issues, little is known about their mental health. Hence, this study examined the prevalence and symptom severity of psychological distress among the group as well as the associations between suicidal ideation, poverty, and psychological distress.
Two hundred seventy questionnaire responses were collected online via Google forms in Phuket in 2021. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Smart-PLS.
Based on the results, most respondents had experienced mild to extremely severe symptoms of psychological distress. However, transgender women sex workers scored higher on depression and anxiety compared to gay men sex workers. This study confirmed the prominent associations between the study variables and the mediation effect of psychological distress.
Poverty resulting from the pandemic imposes a substantial human cost for this vulnerable minority beyond the virus itself as it amplifies mental health problems.
The findings further extend our awareness of the discriminatory treatment of Thai GM&TGW sex workers and address a gap in Thai law and policy for prohibiting discrimination against them. It is of urgent necessity for Thai public health and tourism policymakers to establish sound support interventions.
由于泰国性旅游业受到新冠疫情的重创，泰国男同性恋者和变性女性性工作者更容易遭受经济伤害。作为泰国保守社会中的少数群体，疫情之后他们也更有可能经历贫困和心理健康问题。虽然他们高度成问题的社会和经济状况可能预示着一系列心理问题，但人们对他们的心理健康却知之甚少。因此，本研究调查了该群体中心理困扰的患病率和症状严重程度，以及自杀意念、贫困与心理困扰之间的关联。
2021年通过谷歌表单在普吉岛在线收集了270份问卷回复。使用SPSS和Smart-PLS进行数据分析。
根据结果，大多数受访者经历了轻度到极其严重的心理困扰症状。然而，与男同性恋性工作者相比，变性女性性工作者在抑郁和焦虑方面得分更高。本研究证实了研究变量之间的显著关联以及心理困扰的中介作用。
疫情导致的贫困给这个弱势群体带来了巨大的人力成本，超出了病毒本身，因为它加剧了心理健康问题。
这些发现进一步扩展了我们对泰国男同性恋者和变性女性性工作者受到歧视性待遇的认识，并填补了泰国法律和政策中禁止对他们进行歧视的空白。泰国公共卫生和旅游政策制定者迫切需要建立完善的支持干预措施。
