A Needs Assessment of Transgendered People of Color Living in Washington,DC

SUMMARY

A needs assessment (N = 248) conducted in Washington, DC, revealed that trans-gendered people of color are at high risk for HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, suicide and violence/crime victimization. Overall HIV prevalence was 25%, with 32% in natal males (MTFs, i.e., male-to-females). Four predictors for HIV positive status were identified through logistic regression-male sex at birth, a history of substance abuse, sexual assault, and unemployment. Substance abuse was found in nearly half the sample (48%) but only half of those (51%) had sought treatment for it. Thirty-eight percent reported experiencing suicidal ideation, with 63% of those attributing it to their gender issues. Of those with suicidal ideation, nearly half (49%, or 16% of the entire sample), went on to make attempt(s) to kill themselves. Forty-three percent had been victims of violence or crime, including 13% who had been sexually assaulted.

Knowledge of the Standards of Care of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association was quite low (9%) and associated with white race, any higher education beyond high school, and access to sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Access to SRS, defined as obtaining vaginoplasties for natal males and chest surgeries for natal females, was just 4%. White race (versus all other races, p < .001) and female at birth (versus male, p < .01) were significantly associated with access to SRS.

Use of hormones at some point during their lives was reported by 51% of participants. Thirty-five percent were currently taking hormones, with 72% acquiring their hormones from friends or on the street. Among natal males, 25% had injected silicone.

Nineteen percent did not have their own living space, and employment, housing and job training were the most commonly-reported immediate needs of the sample. The results of this needs assessment provide evidence of an urgent need for increased medical and social services specific to transgendered people of color living in the District of Columbia.     

Self-ratings of health: The influence of age and smoking status and the role of different explanatory models

Abstract

The influence of five background variables (age-group. sex. work status. smoking status. household income) on four health ratings (current self-rating. estimated age/sex average rating, best possible self-rating. health satisfaction self-rating) was investigated in the context of a local survey with 377 respondents. Main effects of age-group. smoking status and work status on current health self-ratings were obtained as predicted. Age-group was also found to affect age/sex average ratings. health satisfaction and best possible health self-ratings, with smoking status also influencing the last of these. Mediation of the obtained effects was also examined by controlling for three independent self-report measures of health status in the analyses. Two relevant theoretical notions were examined in analysing the data. The health satisfaction findings as a function of age-group proved consistent with Multiple Discrepancies Theory. Strong support was obtained for a social representations approach. particularly through the direct effects (unmediated by the independent health status measures) of age-group on age/sex average health ratings and best possible health self-ratings. This suggests the contribution of a social consensus about age as having a negative influence on health status. Directions for further research are briefly outlined.     

The Parable of the Puzzle: Fitting Together the Pieces of Psychological Research

Poised at the threshold of a new century, new millennia, and perhaps a New Age, psychologists may wish to revisit this century's major developments in psychological inquiry. A parable is offered as one means of gaining a new perspective about the current status of psychological research. I hope the parable will stimulate lively debate and raise questions as to how psychology may best contribute in the century ahead.     

Effects of background color on detecting spot stimuli in the upper and lower visual fields

Participants were required to detect spot stimuli briefly presented to the upper, central, or lower visual fields. The stimuli were presented either on a green or a red background. Results showed that reaction time (RT) was shorter for the lower visual field (LVF) compared to the upper visual field (UVF). Furthermore, this LVF advantage was significantly reduced in the red background condition compared to the green one. A red light is known to suppress activity of the magno-dominated stream. Therefore, the LVF advantage in RT can be explained as resulting from the biased representation of the magno-dominated stream in the LVF.     

Educational Background,Modes of Discourse and Argumentation: Comparing Women and Men

This paper analyses the way in which discourse and argumentation may vary depending on participants educational level and gender. Men and women from three different educational levels (literacy, advanced level and university students) participated in discussion groups that debated about women and work, the sharing of housework and the way in which girls and boys are educated. The results showed important differences depending on participants educational level and gender. In general, the main differences were related to educational level, while gender tended to interact with educational level, as a moderating factor.     

中文双字词Stroop现象实验研究

本研究在标准的 Stroop任务中引入中文双字颜色词 ,结果发现 :1无论是单字词还是双字词都产生了显著的 Stroop干扰效应和促进效应 ,双字词的反应时模式同单字词相同。这表明语言学意义上的中文词是一个知觉加工单元 ,无论它由一个字组成或由两个字组成。 2无论是单字词还是双字词 ,Stroop促进效应和干扰效应相同 ,相对于控制条件呈一种对称关系。这一结果同国外的有关发现不同 ,表明作为表意文字的汉字同西方拼音文字具有不同的信息加工特点。     

Color naming: A mapping in the IMCS of common color terms

This study can be considered a follow-up of the investigations of basic color terms by Berlin & Kay and others following their paradigm. It is complementary to these inasmuch as a different method was used for identifying focal areas and boundaries of common color categories, namely semantic differential scales and isosemantic mapping. Further, colors from the entire color space were studied. No comparisons were made between languages, this study being only concerned with the Swedish language. The purpose of this study was to provide a more thorough mapping of the "spread gradients" in various areas of the NCS color space of color categories as represented by the most common color terms.     

Religious traditions as contexts of historical creativity: patterns of scientific and artistic achievement and their stability

Because fragmentary evidence linking outstanding intellectual achievement to Protestant and Jewish family background has left unclear how far any general relationship between religious background and historical creativity holds across arts and sciences, the relative fruitfulness of western religious traditions was explored by regression analysis on a data-base of nearly 1,400 notable 19th and 20th century achievers in six science-related and three arts domains.It was hypothesized that (1) religious traditions are each equipotential across countries, national totals of exceptional achievers in any domain depending simply on the numerical strength of each tradition; (2) Protestant fruitfulness is greater in the sciences, Catholic in the arts and (3) differences will have declined over time.The first two hypotheses were confirmed. More variance was explained by Protestant and Catholic totals separately than by overall population size and Protestant fractions were more productive in all sciences than Catholic, which fared better in the arts. However, no reduction was found in these differences over time. Jewish fractions showed the highest incidence of creativity, but less equipotentiality and no general arts–science difference.It is concluded that creativity in arts and sciences depends strongly on increasingly hidden cultural roots in western society.     

Long Lasting Marriages in Chile

Reports the Chilean segment of a multicultural, multicountry (Canada, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, USA) study on long-term marriages. This pilot study is seen as a starting point in research focusing on the childhood background and family history of long-term marital partners in Chile. No statistically significant association between marital satisfaction and economic or educational level was found. A positive correlation was found between marital satisfaction and happiness during childhood. Love, trust, and loyalty appear to be the main ingredients of satisfaction for both satisfied and unsatisfied couples. The findings across countries as to the essential ingredients reported here have been remarkably similar.