Differential Associations between Enacted and Expected Stigma with Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, and Substance Use in Transgender and Gender Diverse People

Jae A. Puckett; Cindy B. Veldhuis; Paul A. Gilbert; Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter; Brian Mustanski; Michael E. Newcomb

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109921

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Differential Associations between Enacted and Expected Stigma with Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, and Substance Use in Transgender and Gender Diverse People

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Differential Associations between Enacted and Expected Stigma with Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, and Substance Use in Transgender and Gender Diverse People

Jae A. Puckett, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Paul A. Gilbert, Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter, Brian Mustanski and Michael E. Newcomb

Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.248, 109921

07/2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109921

PMCID: PMC10439682

PMID: 37245417

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10439682/pdf/nihms-1905550.pdfView

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Abstract

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience high rates of stigma and marginalization that are theorized to exacerbate substance use and psychological distress. However, little research has examined the role of various minority stressors in relation to substance use in TGD populations. In this sample of 181 TGD individuals in the U.S. who reported substance use or binge drinking over the past month (M age = 25.6; SD = 5.6), we evaluated whether enacted stigma predicted alcohol use, substance use, and psychological distress. Participants endorsed a high rate of exposure to enacted stigma over the past 6 months (e.g., 52% had been verbally insulted). Furthermore, 27.8% of the sample was classified as having moderate or higher severity drug use, and 35.4% were classified as having hazardous drinking levels. We found that enacted stigma was significantly related to moderate-high drug use and psychological distress. There were no significant associations between stigma variables and hazardous levels of drinking. Enacted stigma had an indirect effect on psychological distress via increased expectations of stigma. This study adds to the growing literature exploring minority stressors in relation to substance use and mental health. Subsequent research is needed to examine TGD-specific factors that may more fully explain how TGD people cope with enacted stigma or that may influence substance use, particularly alcohol use. •Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people commonly experience minority stressors•27.8% of the sample was classified as having moderate or higher severity drug use•35.4% were classified as having hazardous drinking levels•Enacted stigma was associated with moderate-high drug use and distress•Neither enacted or expected stigma were associated with alcohol use severity

alcohol use

gender minority

psychological distress

stigma

substance use

transgender

Details

Title: Subtitle: Differential Associations between Enacted and Expected Stigma with Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, and Substance Use in Transgender and Gender Diverse People
Creators: Jae A. Puckett - Michigan State University
Cindy B. Veldhuis - Northwestern University
Paul A. Gilbert - University of Iowa
Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter - Michigan State University
Brian Mustanski - Northwestern University
Michael E. Newcomb - Northwestern University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.248, 109921
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109921
PMID: 37245417
PMCID: PMC10439682
NLM abbreviation: Drug Alcohol Depend
ISSN: 0376-8716
eISSN: 1879-0046
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health; DOI: 10.13039/100000026, name: National Institute on Drug Abuse, award: F32DA038557; DOI: 10.13039/100000027, name: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, award: K99AA028049
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 05/2023
Date published: 07/2023
Academic Unit: Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984413074302771

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