Policy Environment, Social Factors, Political Engagement, and Mental Health of Gender-Diverse People of Color
Transgender and gender-diverse people of color (TGD POC), who exist at the intersection of two well-documented marginalized identities, report startlingly high amounts of mental health burden, with particularly high rates of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Adopting a systems perspective on the study of mental health of TGD POC would suggest that social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, play an important role in the mental health disparities TGD POC experience. This research proposal puts forth the hypothesis that anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-POC state policy environments are correlated with greater mental distress and suicide ideation in a sample of TGD POC. Robertson also hypothesizes that discrimination experiences and socioeconomic status will partially account for the variance in these relationships. Additionally, Robertson hypothesizes that political media exposure and political participation will significantly moderate these relationships.