Prevalência de sintomas depressivos, ideação suicida e tentativa de suicídio em pessoas trans e o impacto do estresse de minoria

Abstract

This dissertation aims to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among Brazilian transgender people, as well as the impact of minority stress, support for trans identity, social support and passability on depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. The Minority Stress Theory was developed by Meyer and states that belonging to a minority group, through experiences of stigma and discrimination, may affect one's mental health. As protective factors, social support for trans identity alleviates the stress experienced by transgender people. The present study had a sample of 378 trans people from two Brazilian states. 67,20% of transgender people reported depressive symptoms; 67,72% disclosed suicidal ideation; and 43,12% revealed previous suicide attempts, of which 80,50% of attempts were related to trans identity. All participants reported having already been victims of silence, verbal, physical or sexual aggression related to their gender identity. Three logistic regression models were performed, encompassing the three study outcomes (depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts). Internalized stigma was associated significantly with all the three outcomes. Early prejudice was statistically associated with depressive symptoms. Among the protective variables, social support was significantly associated with the three outcomes. Support for transgender identity and passability were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Trans people endure multiple experiences of discrimination, and high rates of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt when compared to the general Brazilian population. Therefore, preventive interventions to improve trans people mental health should affect both individual and social levels with affirmative support to the trans identity.