Examining family communication, sexual health in transgender and gender diverse youth
October 24, 2019
PhD candidate Camille Brown, BSN, RN, is examining family communication and sexual health among transgender and gender diverse youth for her dissertation in the PhD in Nursing program at the University of Minnesota.
Her research is exploring transgender and gender diverse youth perceptions of how family communication about sexuality, sexual health and sexual relationships influence personal feelings, attitudes and beliefs about their own sexuality and how it influences decision-making related to their sexual health behaviors.
“Transgender and gender diverse young people bear a disproportionate health burden related to their marginalized identities,” said Brown. “Understanding the complex and nuanced ways family communication about sexuality can influence sexual health among this vulnerable group can help nurses develop more inclusive health education, tailor interventions and provide guidance for families in their care in an effort to reduce the health equity gap.”
Participants, ranging in ages from 16-23, from a variety racial and ethnic backgrounds with diverse gender identities were interviewed for the qualitative research. Brown is now in the process of coding the data and identifying themes.
Brown recently presented her work at a Works in Progress seminar, a forum in which a student and faculty present about the research they are in the process of conducting.
She received funding from the School of Nursing Sophia Fund and the University of Minnesota Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship.