Past Research Studies
We've had a variety of research studies in our lab. Here are the projects that we've completed in terms of ongoing data collection and most research publications. Some projects we may still be working on publishing from. To read more about the papers we've written based on our research, you can also check out our Publications page.
Minority Stress Measure Development
A study to develop measures of stress and resilience that accurately reflect the lived experiences of transgender and nonbinary people.
Researchers: This study was co-led by Drs. Jae Puckett, Kaston Anderson, and Heather McCauley at MSU and Dr. Zachary DuBois at the University of Oregon also collaborated with us on this study.
Overall Aims: The overall aims of this study were to develop measures based directly on the experiences of transgender and nonbinary people to assess minority stressors. We led this study because there are hardly any measures developed with transgender people in mind and most research instead forces transgender people's experiences into models or measures made for cis LGB people.
What's included in this study? We first developed items for these scales from data we've gathered in past research. After we developed the potential items, we conducted cognitive interviews with transgender and nonbinary participants to make sure the items were easy to understand and speak to the unique experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals. Next we had a panel of experts in trans health research review the items and provide feedback. We also had the Trans-ilience Community Board provide feedback on the scales. After this iterative process of revision, we conducted a large survey to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measures.
What's the current status of this study? This project began September 2020. We developed 8 novel scales to measure unique forms of minority stress for transgender and nonbinary people. In 2023, we finished a large-scale measure validation survey. We have published the main scales that were created and are continuing to publish from other parts of this data set.
What are the findings from this study?
We are still in the process of analyzing data from this large study. A few key findings so far:
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This publication includes the validation analyses for our new measures of novel forms of minority stress that trans and nonbinary people experience.
Funders: This study is funded by the Office Of The Director, National Institutes Of Health; National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities (NIMHD); and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Trans Resilience & Health in Sociopolitical Contexts
A collaborative study of how place and sociopolitical events relate to health and resilience for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Researchers: This study is co-led by Drs. Jae Puckett at MSU and Zachary DuBois at the University of Oregon. We also have site leaders in Nebraska and research teams that have been involved across Nebraska and Tennessee.
Overall Aims: The overall aims of this study were to understand and document how place and sociopolitical context relates to health and resilience for transgender and gender diverse people.
What's included in this study? We gathered data with 158 transgender and nonbinary people across the U.S. in the states of OR, MI, TN, and NE, places that substantially vary in their supports for transgender individuals. There was a baseline visit where we conducted hour long interviews about living in this area, recent sociopolitical events, and definitions of resilience; a variety of surveys on topics like social support, mental/physical health, and resilience; and finally a series of physiological measurements that reflect stress and health outcomes. We then surveyed participants monthly for a year. At the end of the year, we conducted another interview with participants and repeated the physiological measurements from baseline.
What's the current status of this study? We completed data collection fall 2021. While we have published a number of findings from this project, we are actively continuing to analyze and publish data from this project given the depth of data collection.
What are the findings from this study?
We are still in the process of analyzing data from this large study. A few key findings so far:
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Check out the summary report for a big picture overview of the study findings.
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Dr. Jae Puckett presenting about participants' experiences of therapy.
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Drs. Zachary DuBois and Jae Puckett presenting about resilience and health during COVID-19 pandemic.
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Drs. Jae Puckett and Zachary DuBois present their poster on structural stigma and mental health.
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This publication presents data regarding participants' experiences of mask wearing during the pandemic and how this was experienced differently across gender groups.
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Here we describe how the effects of perceptions of local context on mental health were partially explained by enacted stigma and internalized stigma
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This publication covers information related to engagement in mental health services and perceptions of therapists' competence and knowledge.
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This publication explores the positive benefits of legal gender affirmation, including decreased exposure to enacted stigma and better mental and physical health.
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Here we explore trans and nonbinary participants' experiences of minority stress, mental health, and resilience leading up to, during, and after the 2020 presidential election.
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This publication examines the associations between distal minority stress and cortisol profiles.
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Here we discuss participants' experiences and reactions to a few sociopolitical events, including the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
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Here we detail how participants coped during the pandemic and extend these findings to inform understandings of resilience and coping.
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This publication explores helpful and unhelpful responses from therapists when working with trans and nonbinary clients in relation to sociopolitical events.
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This publication focuses on trans and nonbinary clients' experiences in therapy and how affirming experiences unfold over time.
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Here we explore experiences of physical health and social support.
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This publication explores coping styles and their potential buffering effect on the impacts of enacted stigma.
Study Website: https://transresiliencestudy.com/
Trans Health Study
This study entailed two sections: a unique daily diary study of stress, mental health, and sexual risk behaviors; a one-time survey about stress, mental health, and coping.
Researchers: Jae A. Puckett, Ph.D., and a former community board in Chicago
Overall Aims: The primary aims of this study were to evaluate daily stressors that transgender people experience and their association with mental health, substance use, and HIV risk behaviors. This study also evaluated the mechanisms or processes that explain these associations, such as internalized stigma.
What's included in this study? This study entailed 2 options: 1) a study in which participants responded to daily surveys about their experience for 8 weeks (56 days) and 2) a one-time survey for people who did not qualify for the first option. Each of these options measured unique minority stressors that transgender people experience, mental health, coping, and resilience. The daily study also assessed substance use and sexual risk behaviors.
What's the current status of this study? The study is complete, and we are finishing up a few remaining publications from this study.
What are the findings from this study?
A few key findings so far:
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We've documented barriers that trans people experience in obtaining gender affirming healthcare.
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A recent publication also provides suggestions for improving healthcare for trans folks.
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We have published a few papers about the unique forms of daily stressors that participants reported:
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A paper on the effects of the 2016 election.
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Details on daily stressors trans people experience.
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A paper on types of ruminative experiences participants reported.
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This paper discusses suggestions from participants about how to ask about gender in research studies.
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These papers discuss: social support and resilience in relation to mental health; coping with discrimination.
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We also explored variations across generational cohorts in terms of reaching certain milestones in their gender identity development. You can check out the publication here, as well as this news story covering the findings.
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This publication explores quantitative, daily diary data on the associations between minority stress and mental health.
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This publication explores associations between minority stress and substance/alcohol use.
Funders: This project was funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health
Predictors of Prejudice Against Transgender People
A study on what factors predict prejudice towards transgender and gender diverse people.
Researchers: This study was led by Dr. Jae Puckett and Cylie Hanson, a former undergraduate student who was completing her honors thesis. Dr. Zachary DuBois also collaborated with us on this study.
Overall Aims: The primary aims of this study were to examine predictors of negative attitudes towards transgender individuals.
What's included in this study? This was a brief online survey for cisgender people. We asked questions about attitudes towards transgender people, personal contact with transgender people, education about issues that impact transgender communities, and other individual experiences that may shape attitudes or levels of bias in general, such as proneness to aggression and critical consciousness. We also examined the ways in which cisgender people make meaning of gender experiences to understand how they draw boundaries around gender groups via having them define what it meant to be a man or a woman and what traits they associate with masculinity, femininity, and androgyny.
What's the current status of this study? The study is complete and we have published the main findings.
What are the findings from this study?
Analysis of Public Testimony Data Regarding Access to Public Restrooms
Using public testimony data from Texas, we explored what types of arguments are presented in hearings related to transgender and gender diverse people's access to public restrooms.
Researchers: This study was led by Dr. Jae Puckett and Aren Kurth, a former undergraduate student who was completing her honors thesis.
Overall Aims: The primary aims of this study were to analyze public testimony hearings to better understand the types of arguments presented in such legislative hearings.
What's included in this study? We located publicly available testimony hearings from Texas and transcribed these hearings. We analyzed this qualitative data to better understand the types of arguments presented.
What's the current status of this study? The study is complete and we have published the main findings.
What are the findings from this study?
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Our findings from this study have been published here.
Analysis of Public Testimony Data Regarding Sports Bans and Transgender Individuals
Using public testimony data from Texas, we explored what types of arguments are presented in hearings related to transgender and gender diverse people's participation in school sports.
Researchers: This study was led by Dr. Jae Puckett, Terra Dunn (a former undergraduate student), and Kye Campbell-Fox (lab manager).
Overall Aims: The primary aims of this study were to analyze public testimony hearings to better understand the types of arguments presented in such legislative hearings.
What's included in this study? We located publicly available testimony hearings from Texas and transcribed these hearings. We analyzed this qualitative data to better understand the types of arguments presented.
What's the current status of this study? The study is complete and we have published the main findings.
What are the findings from this study?
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Our findings from this study have been published here.