The impact of strengths-based group counseling on LGBTQ + young adults in the coming out process

A Qualitative Examination of Tobacco Use and Smoking Cessation Among Gender Minority Adults

BACKGROUND

Despite the elevated prevalence of smoking among gender minority adults, little is known about the factors that influence their tobacco use and cessation.

PURPOSE

We identified and examined factors that influence tobacco use and cessation for gender minority adults, using a conceptual framework based on the Model of Gender Affirmation and Gender Minority Stress Model.

METHODS

Nineteen qualitative, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with gender minority adults who smoke or no longer smoke and were recruited from the Portland, OR metropolitan area. Interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four main themes were generated. Gender minority adults smoke to cope with general and gender minority-specific stressors. Smoking was described as a social behavior that was influenced and sustained by community and interpersonal relationships. Smoking cessation was motivated by health concerns (both general and gender minority-specific) and moderated by conducive life circumstances. Recommendations for tobacco cessation interventions highlighted the importance and role of social support. Participants expressed a strong desire for gender minority-specific tobacco cessation programs. There are unique and complex factors that contribute to the higher prevalence of smoking observed among gender minority adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco cessation interventions are urgently needed for this population and should be tailored to address the unique factors that impact tobacco use and cessation among gender minority people to increase the likelihood of success.

Sexual Minority Status, Affect Lability, and Suicide Ideation: Buffering Role of Trait Mindfulness

OBJECTIVE

Emotion regulation has been proposed as a mechanism driving sexual orientation disparities in suicide ideation (SI), but little research has examined the role of affect lability in the association of sexual minority identity and SI. As prior research has found trait mindfulness to be associated with lower SI, the objective of the present study was to examine the buffering role of mindfulness in the associations of sexual orientation, affect lability, and SI.

METHOD

The present study used a moderated mediation model to examine a cross-sectional dataset consisting of heterosexual (n = 1511) and sexual minority (n = 355) U.S. college students (N = 1866), to examine whether five facets of mindfulness moderated the indirect association of sexual minority identity on SI via affect lability.

RESULTS

As predicted, sexual minority identity was associated with higher affect lability, which in turn was associated with higher SI. Acting with awareness (i.e., attending to the present activities), describing (i.e., the ability to verbalize inner experiences), and non-judging (i.e., refraining from judging inner experiences) buffered the indirect association of sexual minority identity on SI via affect lability, such that the indirect association weakened at higher levels of those mindfulness facets.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide a better understanding of the emotion regulation mechanisms underlying the higher risk of SI among sexual minorities. Future research is needed to examine mindfulness facets as buffers against SI among other communities, and to examine the efficacy of emotion regulation and mindfulness interventions in reducing suicide ideation and other aspects of suicidality (i.e., plans/attempts).HighlightsSexual orientation disparities in suicide ideation (SI) and affect lability.Sexual minority identity linked to higher SI via higher affect lability.Three mindfulness facets attenuated indirect association of identity on SI.

Introduction to the Special Section on Group Psychotherapy and Gender Identity

This introduction to the special section of this issue of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy provides context for the articles that follow. I discuss how recent events (both within and outside of the American Group Psychotherapy Association) highlight the need for an ongoing discussion about how group psychotherapists have a duty to provide ethical and affirming care of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals. I then provide a brief overview of some foundational terms and constructs related to gender identity and briefly review the existing literature before previewing the two articles in the special section that focus on ethical issues in group psychotherapy with TGNC individuals (Darby, this issue, 2020) and in providing affirming group psychotherapy (Chen et al., this issue, 2020). I conclude with recommendations for readers to gain additional knowledge, awareness, and skills related to gender identity and to working with TGNC clients in group psychotherapy.

Identity negotiation processes among Black and Latinx sexual minority young adult mental health service users

The transition to adulthood presents particular challenges for Black and Latinx sexual minorities in need of mental health services. Identity formation and marginalization during this developmental period can interfere with help-seeking and lead to health disparities. Identity-specific psychosocial supports are needed to assist young adults to successfully navigate these challenges, but research on identity processes, help-seeking, and service-utilization among sexual minority young people of color is very limited. To better understand how multiple minority young people navigate their identities in the context of using, or choosing not to use, mental health services, this study qualitatively explored the experiences of 31 emerging adults. Through in-depth interviews, analyses revealed that young adults negotiated social identity norms about mental health help-seeking by separating from unhelpful norms, managing stigmatized aspects of identity, integrating helpful identity alternatives, and forming individualized perspectives on help-seeking that allowed them to maintain important connections to their minority group identities. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research on ethnic and sexual minority identity development and service utilization. Practice and research recommendations for increasing knowledge, improving help-seeking, and promoting resilience around young adults' intersectional identities are offered.