APF Research Roundup: LGBTQIA+ Health Edition
National LGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week highlights the unique health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ communities, and the critical role of psychological research in addressing these disparities. At APF, we are dedicated to funding research that supports the mental and physical well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals, while working towards accessible, equitable and affirming care, policies, and interventions.
Read on to learn more about some of the APF-funded projects from the past year that are driving progress in LGBTQIA+ health.
Austin Bryan (he/him)
Northwestern University
2024 Wayne F. Placek Grant in Memorial of John Peterson
Project Title
Exploring Psychosocial Stressors and Behavioral Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Disease Among LGBTQ+ Ugandans
Research Summary
My APF-funded research investigates the intersection of psychosocial stressors and behavioral risk factors contributing to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda, a group facing severe criminalization under extreme anti-LGBTQ+ laws. By examining the impacts of stigma, discrimination, and criminalization on behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use, this study aims to illuminate how these factors exacerbate health disparities and are entangled in longer histories of structural violence. Using ethnographic fieldwork, surveys, and interviews, this project identifies coping mechanisms, ongoing community-building practices, and health behaviors within a marginalized community I have worked with for over a decade to inform culturally sensitive healthcare policies. The findings contribute to broader global health discussions on stigma-related health disparities and advance the theoretical framework of global medical apartheid, uncovering how systemic marginalization at multiple scales perpetuates unequal health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
Elliott Botelho (they/them)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2024 COGDOP Graduate Research Scholarships
Project Title
A Short Measure of Gender Minority Stress and Resilience: Development and Validation of the Brief GeMS-R
Research Summary
Transgender individuals experience significant health disparities as compared to their cisgender peers. The Gender Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) Theory posits that transgender individuals experience unique stressors which may be partially responsible for physical and mental health disparities. Valid, reliable, and feasible measurement of GMSR among transgender individuals is imperative to advancing our understanding of the health of this disparity population. To address this gap, Botelho’s dissertation will develop the Brief Gender Minority Stress and Resilience (Brief GeMS-R) Measure, a community-informed short-form of the GMSR Measure, and validate it in a national sample of transgender adults in the U.S. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to inform measure development, ensuring the Brief GeMS-R is community-informed and culturally appropriate for use in this population.
Dr. Violeta Rodriguez (she/her/ella) & Dr. Qimin Liu (he/him)
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign & Boston University
2024 The Springfield Research Fund Grant
Project Title
Understanding Parenting, Stigma, and Health in LGBTQIA+ Parents: An Intersectional and Longitudinal Approach
Research Summary
Our project explores how parenting impacts health in LGBTQIA+ families, especially among those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. It aims to understand how parenting can affect mental and physical well-being in both parents and children. By studying a broad group of LGBTQIA+ parents and their children over time, this research will uncover patterns in parenting that may help address health disparities and provide support for LGBTQIA+ families facing unique challenges.
Want to contribute to projects like this and create impact through psychology? Donate to APF today!