Exploring Health and Transition-Related Needs in Polish Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Gender diverse individuals constitute a substantial yet still understudied population. Particularly little is known about gender non-binary people whose health needs have only recently gained attention from clinicians. AIM: To investigate needs for gender-affirming interventions, selected health indicators and determinants in Polish gender non-binary individuals as compared to transgender men and transgender women. METHODS: We analyzed a subset of data from an online study on health in members of the Polish LGBTQ community. The sample consisted of 53 persons who self-identified as non-binary and 45 transgender men and transgender women. The uptake and the desire for gender-affirming medical interventions as well as selected health indicators were compared in non-binary and transgender persons. Additionally, regression models were conducted for depression, self-esteem and somatic symptoms severity as dependent variables, age as a covariate, and perceived stigma exposure, resilience and discomfort associated with current gender expression as predictors. OUTCOMES: Outcomes such as desire for gender-affirming medical interventions and legal gender reassignment, symptoms of depression, resilience, physical symptoms severity, and perceived stigma exposure were captured in self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Compared to the transgender men and transgender women, the non-binary participants of the study significantly less often pursued or desired gender-affirming medical interventions and legal gender reassignment. The non-binary participants also felt significantly more discomfort with their current gender expression. They were also characterized by increased expectations of rejection, vicarious trauma associated with being an LGBTQ person, and by decreased resilience compared to the transgender men and transgender women. Non-binary identity and individual resilience predicted higher self-esteem and decreased depression in the sample. The severity of physical symptoms was predicted by perceived stigma exposure (positively) and by resilience (negatively). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Polish non-binary individuals may constitute a vulnerable population in terms of greater perceived exposure to stigma and decreased individual resilience. Both transgender and non-binary individuals seek gender-affirming interventions and legal gender reassignment; the latter group, however, does so significantly less often. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: We analyzed the data from a unique and understudied Polish population. By exploring the diversity within the transgender and non-binary community, we add to the ongoing discussion on transgender and non-binary health. The major limitations of the study are convenience sampling, cross-sectional design, and limited sample size. CONCLUSION: Non-binary individuals constitute a distinct population in terms of psychosocial and health-related characteristics. Clinicians should be aware of their needs and the challenges they face in association with living in a predominantly gender binary-oriented society. Koziara K, Mijas M. Wycisk J, et al. Exploring Health and Transition-Related Needs in Polish Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals. J Sex Med 2021;18:1110-1121.

The body self and the frequency, intensity and acceptance of menopausal symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: There are many studies on the concept of body image (usually understood narrowly as body acceptance) in menopausal women, but relationships between the body self and menopausal symptoms have not been explored yet. In the research discussed in this paper, a complex model of the body self, including its functions, body identity and body image, has been presented. AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of the study was to explore the relationships between different aspects of the body self, and the frequency, intensity and acceptance of menopausal symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigated sample consisted of 81 women (age: 51.8 ± 4.2 years; range: 45-58 years). The authors used an extended version of the Menopause Symptom List and the Body Self Questionnaire. RESULTS: Perception of sensations, interpretation and regulation of emotions and physical states as well as body identity were the most important correlates of the intensity and frequency of menopausal symptoms (psychological, vasomotor and somatic). Among the body image aspects investigated in the study, the appearance evaluation was associated with the frequency of vasomotor and psychological symptoms. The level of acceptance of symptoms was only related to the ability to cope with emotions and physical needs. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that aspects of the body self (which are stable personality traits) are significant for the way women experience menopausal symptoms.

[Future psychologists' attitudes toward lesbians raising children together in the situation of child focused intervention]. / Postawa przyszlych psychologów wobec lesbijek wychowujacych wspólnie dzieci w sytuacji interwencji skoncentrowanej na dziecku.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of paper was to explore the attitudes of Polish psychology students towards lesbian mothers whose children undergo psychological intervention, in an imaginary situation of providing professional support to the child. The authors found 3 types of psychologist behaviour: contact omission (withdrawal from the intervention, mother's partner exclusion), apparent appreciation of mother's partner and authentic appreciation of mother's partner (with women comparable participation). The authors explored an interaction between these attitudes and the support for gay and lesbian rights, the origin of the child (from a previous heterosexual relationship or present, homosexual one) and demographic variables. METHODS: 97 students of psychology were examined at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, using the custom survey. RESULTS: Respondents were most likely to include mother's partner to intervention, and the least - to avoid contact. Based on cluster analysis we found three types of attitude: unconditional acceptance, conditional acceptance, dependent on whether the child was born due in heterosexual or lesbian relationship and avoidance / rejection. The attitude of participants was associated with the declared support for gay rights, there was no correlation with gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the significant level of social prejudice against gays and lesbians in Poland, the issue of homosexual parenting and social functioning of gay and lesbians' children should become an area of research and scientific debate. There is a necessity ofthe introduction of this issue to the curricula of higher education and the implementation of formal, systematic training on sexual diversity for the professionals supporting families.

Psychometric assessment of the Polish Translation of the Transgender Positive Identity Measure (T-PIM). / Ocena psychometryczna polskiego tlumaczenia kwestionariusza Transgender Positive Identity Measure (T-PIM).

OBJECTIVES: Research conducted in transgender and gender diverse individuals focused mainly on the challenges and health disparities affecting this population. One reason for this situation is the lack of questionnaires capturing positive aspects and experiences related to being a transgender person. The Transgender Positive Identity Measure (T-PIM) is one of a very few measures designed to explore such experiences. The aim of the study was to investigate the structure, reliability and validity of the Polish translation of the T-PIM questionnaire. METHODS: A group of 89 transgender and gender diverse participants completed an online survey including the T-PIM questionnaire, resilience measurement scale (SPP-25) and depression (CESD-R) measures. Hierarchical item clustering method (ICLUST), Horn's parallel analysis and Velicer's minimum average partial test (MAP) were employed to investigate the structure of the questionnaire. RESULTS: The analyses showed that the Polish translation of the T-PIM questionnaire was characterized by a 5-factor structure consistent with the original publication (Authenticity, Intimacy, Community, Social Justice, Insights). Cronbach's alpha and Guttman's lambda-6 reliability coefficients reached satisfactory levels for all five factors and for the whole questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish translation of the T-PIM questionnaire is characterized by satisfying psychometric properties and can be used in studies on transgender and gender diverse communities.

It gets better with age: Resilience, stigma, and mental health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons from Poland.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer populations are disproportionately affected by chronic stress associated with stigma which contributes to health adversities including depression. Negative impact of stigma on health can be alleviated by factors such as resilience. Little is known however on how exposure to stigma, protective factors and mental health change with age among gender and sexually diverse persons. Our study aimed at investigating this issue. Our sample consisted of (i) 245 sexually diverse cisgender women, (ii) 175 sexually diverse cisgender men, and (iii) 98 transgender and gender diverse persons. We collected data through a web-based survey. Linear regression models were performed to investigate the interactions of age and each group of participants for resilience, stigma exposure, and mental health indicators (depression and self-esteem). We hypothesized that resilience and mental health indicators will be positively associated with age in all distinguished groups despite the continued exposure to minority stress. The analysis yielded no significant relationships between stigma exposure and age among study participants. However, we observed significant interaction effects of distinguished groups of participants and age in case of self-esteem, depression, and resilience. Self-esteem and resilience were related positively, and depression was negatively associated with age in all study groups. Additionally, we observed that sexually diverse cisgender men demonstrated significantly increased resilience, reduced depression and higher self-esteem compared to other groups. Although the exposure to stigma did not decrease with age, resilience and self-esteem increased, suggesting that LGBTQ persons manage to thrive despite adversities.