Social Connectedness and Health among Gender Minority People of Color

PROJECT SUMMARY Gender minority people of color (GM POC) have documented disparities in mental and physical health. These disparities have been attributed, at least in part, to minority stress. Perceived social support has been shown to be protective, and may buffer the impact of minority stress on health. However, little is known about the social relations and connectedness of GM POC. This study therefore examines the social relations of GM POC and identifies targets for future interventions to enhance their social connectedness, health and wellbeing. Guided by the Convoy Model of Social Relations, the study aims to: (1) Examine the social relations and connectedness of GM POC age 18-69 through in-depth, qualitative interviews (N = 60); (2) adapt the established structured Social Convoy Interview protocol to quantitatively assess the contemporary social networks and support of GM POC adults through a series of cognitive interviews (N = 24); and (3) identify strengths and weaknesses in social connectedness that moderate the association between minority stress and outcomes of mental health and aging among a community sample of GM POC (N = 360). GM POC will be recruited through venue-based sampling in the New York City and New Orleans metropolitan areas, two cities that differ in structural stigma, both in terms of policies related to gender diversity and history of systematic racism. The study will combine self-report interview data and telomere length as a biomarker of aging. The study will result in an in-depth understanding of the social connectedness of GM POC; an instrument to assess the contemporary social networks of this minority population; and generalizable knowledge about the mechanism of how social support may buffer the negative impact of minority stress on health. Findings will inform future interventions to reduce social isolation and disparities in health among gender and racial/ethnic minority populations.