Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Barbara A. Backlund

Abstract

AbstractNo significant research exists that addresses mental health providers' attitudes toward the treatment of intersex individuals. The purpose and primary goal of this qualitative study was to provide insight into mental health providers’ attitudes toward an understanding of treatment of intersex individuals, including possible changes in attitudes over the past 25 years. Using the theoretical foundations of social constructivism and gender variant phenomenon, the guiding research questions sampled mental health providers’ views of attitudinal shifts in treatment of the intersex population over 25 years, their changing views toward intersex over the course of their careers, and what mental disorders they believed to be prevalent among the intersex community. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 10 mental health providers who may or may not have worked with or previously known about intersex. Analysis involved coding themes and using NVivo12, a statistical software package, to discover common words reflecting the research questions. Understanding and trauma were the most prevalent themes that emerged for each of three research questions. Depression emerged as the most expected psychological disorder. While the available literature and an interpretive analysis of the results suggested both attitudes and treatment of intersex may have changed over time, the results also illuminated a glaring deficit in mental health providers’ knowledge and understanding of intersex and suggested the need for a major modification in training programs to include specific training in treatment of intersex individuals. The results of this qualitative study will inform administrators and directors of psychology training programs’ current and future curriculum decisions regarding treatment of the unique intersex population.

Download

Share

 
COinS