Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States
IntroductionHistorically, LGBTQ+ people have and continue to endure discrimination across many contexts, including healthcare. Research and data from nationwide samples in the United States regarding medical-related stigma experienced by LGBTQ+ people are scant.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was di...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1488888/full |
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| author | Dustin Z. Nowaskie Dehandra Blackwood Frank Garcia |
| author_facet | Dustin Z. Nowaskie Dehandra Blackwood Frank Garcia |
| author_sort | Dustin Z. Nowaskie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionHistorically, LGBTQ+ people have and continue to endure discrimination across many contexts, including healthcare. Research and data from nationwide samples in the United States regarding medical-related stigma experienced by LGBTQ+ people are scant.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed online to a national sample of United States residents. Participants answered questions about their healthcare, including experiences with medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and trust.ResultsCompared to cisgender and heterosexual people (n = 857), LGBTQ+ people (n = 815) reported significantly higher rates of medical-related gaslighting (46.5% vs. 26.5%, ORs 1.75–2.80) and trauma (18% vs. 8.9%, ORs 1.63–2.66). Likewise, LGBTQ+ people conveyed significantly less trust (ORs 0.46–0.53) in primary care providers (59.8% vs. 74.1%), medical specialists (56.5% vs. 71.7%), pharmaceutical companies (17% vs. 28%), insurance companies (15.9% vs. 29.3%), and U.S. healthcare systems (17.8% vs. 30.4%).DiscussionMedical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust are pervasive systemic disparities among LGBTQ+ people. Addressing these challenges will require ongoing, lifelong motivation, dedication, and commitment for LGBTQ+ education, advocacy, and leadership to dismantle current prejudiced practices and foster more inclusive, supportive, affirming healthcare environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5565320a613f4e859e8852c73985e8da |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5565320a613f4e859e8852c73985e8da2025-02-12T07:26:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-02-011010.3389/fsoc.2025.14888881488888Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United StatesDustin Z. Nowaskie0Dehandra Blackwood1Frank Garcia2Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United StatesColumbia University, New York, NY, United StatesIntroductionHistorically, LGBTQ+ people have and continue to endure discrimination across many contexts, including healthcare. Research and data from nationwide samples in the United States regarding medical-related stigma experienced by LGBTQ+ people are scant.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed online to a national sample of United States residents. Participants answered questions about their healthcare, including experiences with medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and trust.ResultsCompared to cisgender and heterosexual people (n = 857), LGBTQ+ people (n = 815) reported significantly higher rates of medical-related gaslighting (46.5% vs. 26.5%, ORs 1.75–2.80) and trauma (18% vs. 8.9%, ORs 1.63–2.66). Likewise, LGBTQ+ people conveyed significantly less trust (ORs 0.46–0.53) in primary care providers (59.8% vs. 74.1%), medical specialists (56.5% vs. 71.7%), pharmaceutical companies (17% vs. 28%), insurance companies (15.9% vs. 29.3%), and U.S. healthcare systems (17.8% vs. 30.4%).DiscussionMedical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust are pervasive systemic disparities among LGBTQ+ people. Addressing these challenges will require ongoing, lifelong motivation, dedication, and commitment for LGBTQ+ education, advocacy, and leadership to dismantle current prejudiced practices and foster more inclusive, supportive, affirming healthcare environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1488888/fullgaslightingLGBTQ+pharmaprovidertraumatrust |
| spellingShingle | Dustin Z. Nowaskie Dehandra Blackwood Frank Garcia Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States Frontiers in Sociology gaslighting LGBTQ+ pharma provider trauma trust |
| title | Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States |
| title_full | Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States |
| title_short | Pervasive systemic disparities: medical-related gaslighting, trauma, and distrust among LGBTQ+ people in the United States |
| title_sort | pervasive systemic disparities medical related gaslighting trauma and distrust among lgbtq people in the united states |
| topic | gaslighting LGBTQ+ pharma provider trauma trust |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1488888/full |
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