%0 Journal Article %T Mental health of transgender veterans in US states with and without discrimination and hate crime legal protection %J American journal of public health %D 2016 %A Blosnich, John R. %A Marsiglio, Mary C. %A Gao, Shasha %A Gordon, Adam J. %A Shipherd, Jillian C. %A Kauth, Michael %A Brown, George R. %A Fine, Michael J. %V 106 %N 3 %P 534-540 %X OBJECTIVES: To examine whether indicators of community- and state-level lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality are associated with transgender veterans' mental health.

METHODS: We extracted Veterans Administration data for patients who were diagnosed with gender identity disorder, had at least 1 visit in 2013, and lived in a zip code with a Municipality Equality Index score (n = 1640). We examined the associations of whether a state included transgender status in employment nondiscrimination laws and in hate crimes laws with mood disorders; alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco use disorders; posttraumatic stress disorder; and suicidal ideation or attempt.

RESULTS: Nearly half (47.3%) of the sample lived in states with employment discrimination protection, and 44.8% lived in states with hate crimes protection. Employment nondiscrimination protection was associated with 26% decreased odds of mood disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59, 0.93) and 43% decreased odds of self-directed violence (AOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social stressors can inform treatment and care coordination for transgender populations. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 21, 2016: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302981).

Language: en

%G en %I American Public Health Association %@ 0090-0036 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302981