Victimization and psychological wellbeing among sexual and gender minority emerging adults: Testing the moderating role of emotional comfort from companion animals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby Elaine McDonald ◽  
Kelly O'Connor ◽  
Angela Matijczak ◽  
Jennifer Murphy ◽  
Jennifer W Applebaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Moderating Role

“He was like, my ride or die”: Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults’ Perspectives on Living With Pets During the Transition to Adulthood

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110253
Author(s):  
Shelby E. McDonald ◽  
Angela Matijczak ◽  
Nicole Nicotera ◽  
Jennifer W. Applebaum ◽  
Liza Kremer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

This qualitative study explores the benefits and risks associated with living with companion animals during the transition to adulthood among 117 sexual and gender minority (SGM) emerging adults living in the U.S. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using template analysis. Thematic analysis identified several risks (caregiver burden, pets as barriers to relationships, animal-related psychological stress) and benefits (pets as a buffer to stress, pets as social capital, pets as a coping mechanism for mental health, and pets as identity and purpose) associated with living with pets. Our results suggest that pets may influence SGM emerging adult identity development and related wellbeing by facilitating feelings of belongingness, positive self-regard, and purpose; promoting social interactions; and providing emotional support and comfort to cope with stress. However, pets, and their associated care, were also a source of caregiving burden and psychological stress. We discuss practice and policy implications and directions for future research.

scholarly journals Romantic involvement and mental health in sexual and gender minority emerging adults assigned female at birth

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1340-1361
Author(s):  
Sarah W. Whitton ◽  
Lisa M. Godfrey ◽  
Shariell Crosby ◽  
Michael E. Newcomb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Romantic Involvement ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
Relationship Involvement ◽  
And Gender

We examined whether romantic relationship involvement, a well-established protective factor against mental health problems among heterosexual adults, is also protective for sexual and gender minority emerging adults assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB), a group at high risk for mental health issues. Using cross-sectional data from a community sample of 222 SGM-AFAB ages 18–20 years, we assessed associations between current relationship involvement and five mental health variables: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use problems, cannabis use problems, and illicit drug use. There were no differences by romantic involvement in problematic cannabis use or other illicit drug use. Overall, participants in a relationship reported fewer depressive symptoms, fewer anxiety symptoms, and less problematic alcohol use than participants who were single. Some associations differed, however, by participant gender identity, sexual orientation identity, and partner gender. Specifically, relationship involvement was associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms for cisgender female participants ( n = 154) but not for gender minority participants ( n = 68) and for lesbian participants ( n = 38) but not for bisexual/pansexual participants ( n = 134) or those with other sexual orientation identities ( n = 50). Participants romantically involved with a cisgender female partner ( n = 43) had fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms than single participants ( n = 100), those with a cisgender male partner ( n = 56), and those with a gender minority partner (n = 23). Together, these findings suggest that romantic involvement may promote mental health for many, but not all, SGM young adults, highlighting the importance of attending to differences among SGM subgroups in research and efforts to reduce mental health and substance use disparities.

scholarly journals Relations Between Sexual and Gender Minority Stress, Personal Hardiness, and Psychological Stress in Emerging Adulthood: Examining Indirect Effects via Human-animal Interaction

2021 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2199004
Author(s):  
Shelby E. McDonald ◽  
Jennifer L. Murphy ◽  
Camie A. Tomlinson ◽  
Angela Matijczak ◽  
Jennifer W. Applebaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
And Gender

This study examines the role of human-animal interaction (HAI) in relations between sexual and gender minority (SGM) stress, personal hardiness, and psychological stress during emerging adulthood. Data for the current sample reflect 136 SGM emerging adults between the ages of 18 to 21 years who reported living with a companion animal in the past year (37.5% racial/ethnic minority, 49.2% transgender or gender -expansive, 98.5% sexual minority). Mediation was tested using structural equation modeling with a bootstrapping approach. We found evidence of an indirect effect of microaggressions on personal hardiness. Specifically, increases in microaggressions were associated with increases in HAI; in turn, increases in HAI were associated with higher levels of personal hardiness. No other statistically significant indirect effects were identified in our model. We discuss the implications of these findings for enhancing community capacity to empower and facilitate successful coping among SGM emerging adults.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Comfort from Companion Animals Scale in a Sexual and Gender Minority Sample

Anthrozoös ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Camie A. Tomlinson ◽  
Sarah K. Pittman ◽  
Jennifer L. Murphy ◽  
Angela Matijczak ◽  
Shelby E. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Companion Animals ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Mental Health for Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals with Physical or Cognitive Disabilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 405-417
Author(s):  
Meredith R. Maroney ◽  
Mallaigh McGinley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Individuals With Disabilities ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
Health Experiences ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

This chapter explores the mental health experiences and needs of sexual and gender minority individuals with disabilities. The authors review the evidence-based research on mental health, highlighting the role of stigma, discrimination, and barriers to care. Autistic sexual and gender minority individuals are used to illustrate the unique experiences of subgroups. Much of the research on this topic is exploratory or descriptive in nature, focused on the experiences of and prevalence rates of individuals from sexual and gender minorities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future directions for research, and the importance of centering the voices of sexual and gender minority individuals with disabilities in research and practice whenever possible.

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