College Institutional Climate, Interpersonal Victimization, and the Relationship to Suicidality and Homelessness Among Transgender Individuals

Background and Purpose: Transgender students face heightened risks for interpersonal victimization on college campuses compared to non-transgender individuals (Rankin, 2005), which can lead to a multitude of psychosocial risks. Qualitative research indicates that institutional-related climate factors—such as the presence or lack of gender-neutral bathrooms and gender-blind campus housing—also impact the well-being of transgender people while on campus (Bilodeau, 2007). However, scant quantitative research has examined whether institutional climate factors predict transgender people’s psychosocial well-being. This study examines this topic using data from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS, n=6,456), which is the largest survey of transgender individuals in U.S. history (Grant et al., 2011).

Research Question: How do transgender-related institutional climate factors affect transgender people’s risk for lifetime suicidality and homelessness? Given the influence of interpersonal victimization and psychosocial risks (Meyer, 2003), these effects are examined while controlling for interpersonal victimization.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was used to examine those in the NTDS sample who attended college while transgender (n=2,325, mean age 31, 27% people of color, 44% FTM, 31% MTF). Institutional climate variables included denial of access to campus bathrooms/other facilities as well as student housing. Other questions inquired about interpersonal victimization (harassment/bullying, physical assault, or sexual assault) by students or teachers/staff. Sequential logistic regression models were conducted for lifetime suicidality and lifetime homelessness due to being transgender. Block 1 included demographic variables and the two institutional climate factors (denial of access to bathrooms/facilities or campus housing). Block 2 added the interpersonal victimization variables.

Results: In Block 1 of the suicidality model (n=1,178), disability status, income, and the two institutional climate variables were statistically significant predictors of suicidality. After adding the interpersonal victimization variables, denial of college housing became marginally significant, but denial of access to bathrooms/facilities remained a statistically significant predictor of suicidality (AOR=1.56, p<.01). Interpersonal victimization perpetrated by students (AOR=1.61, p<.001) and teachers/staff (AOR=1.50, p<.05) also predicted suicidality.

In the homelessness model (n=864), all demographic variables and the two institutional climate variables were significant predictors of homelessness. After adding the interpersonal victimization variables, denial of access to bathrooms/facilities became non-significant, but denial of access to campus housing remained a significant predictor of homelessness (AOR=3.42, p<.001). Interpersonal victimization by students (AOR=1.68, p<.05) and teachers/staff (AOR=2.15, p<.001) were also significant predictors.

Implications: This study suggests that college institutional climate related to bathroom and housing access increases the risk of suicidality and homelessness among transgender individuals, even when controlling for experiences of on-campus interpersonal victimization. Such evidence supports the calls of advocates to change the physical structures and policies of college campuses to better meet the needs of transgender individuals. The findings also direct researchers and practitioners to address both the institutional and interpersonal factors that put transgender people at risk for negative outcomes. Future research can build from this study by analyzing other institutional factors and collecting longitudinal data.