To explore the association of bullying and structural stigma from state policies with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in gender-diverse adolescents, particularly focusing on how these factors contribute to mental health challenges.
Key Findings:
TGD youths experience higher rates of bullying and discrimination, which significantly contribute to mental health issues.
Supportive state policies are linked to improved mental health outcomes in TGD youths, suggesting a protective effect.
The incidence of suicide attempts among TGD youths increased significantly following the enactment of unsupportive laws, highlighting the urgent need for policy reform.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that both interpersonal stressors like bullying and structural stigma from state policies significantly impact the mental health of gender-diverse adolescents, particularly in relation to psychotic-like experiences, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Limitations:
The study relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias.
The cross-sectional nature limits causal inferences.
The diversity of the sample may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion:
Addressing bullying and implementing supportive policies are crucial for improving mental health outcomes in gender-diverse adolescents.
by Dylan E. Hughes, Sarah L. Zapetis, Arianna Mordy, Daisy Lopez, Vanessa Calderon, Laura Adery, Rachel Martino, Sarah E. Chang, Lucina Q. Uddin, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, Richard T. Lebeau, Natalia Ramos, Lauren C. Ng, Katherine H. Karlsgodt, Carrie E. Bearden
