Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Loveland, Emily

Abstract

This study explores the impact of barriers to gender-affirming care (GAC) on the mental health outcomes of transgender individuals using a mixed-methods secondary data analysis. Drawing on an existing dataset originally collected by California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) faculty in collaboration with the Transgender Health and Wellness Center (THWC), this research examines both quantitative survey data and qualitative open-ended responses from transgender participants in Southern California. This study focuses on how healthcare access issues—particularly those related to insurance coverage, provider discrimination, and systemic inequities—affect reported experiences of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidality.

This research is guided by intersectionality theory and minority stress theory. These frameworks provide a lens through which to understand how overlapping marginalized identities, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, intensify the impact of discrimination and healthcare inaccessibility. The study identifies not only the prevalence of mental health challenges in the sample but also the psychosocial narratives that reveal how denial or delay of medically necessary care contributes to emotional distress.

This project contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for structural and policy reforms in healthcare systems to better serve transgender populations. The findings will support social work practitioners, educators, and policymakers in promoting culturally competent and affirming care. Moreover, this research amplifies the voices of transgender individuals, honoring their lived experiences as critical data for informing future interventions and public health strategies aimed at improving mental health outcomes and promoting equity.

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