Quality of Life and Psychosocial Well-Being among Intersex-Identifying Individuals in Puerto Rico: An Exploratory Study

Caleb Esteban (), Derek Israel Ortiz-Rodz, Yesibelle I. Muñiz-Pérez, Luis Ramírez-Vega, Coral Jiménez-Ricaurte, Edna Mattei-Torres and Victoria Finkel-Aguilar
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Caleb Esteban: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Derek Israel Ortiz-Rodz: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Yesibelle I. Muñiz-Pérez: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Luis Ramírez-Vega: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Coral Jiménez-Ricaurte: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Edna Mattei-Torres: Ponce Campus, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
Victoria Finkel-Aguilar: Río Piedras Campus, Department of Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Purpose: Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe the diversity or differences in the characteristics of physical sexual development. Approximately 1.7% of the population are born intersex, and 1 in every 2000 babies at birth presents genital variation. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on the health of intersex-identifying persons in Latin America. This study aimed to document experiences of discrimination and violence among self-identifying intersex individuals in Puerto Rico and to determine if there is a significant difference in the quality of life, psychological well-being, and social well-being between intersex-identifying and endosex individuals. Methods: This was a quantitative method pilot study with a cross-sectional approach and exploratory comparative group design. An online survey was used, where a total of 12 self-identifying intersex adult participants were recruited, and 126 endosex adult participants served as a comparative group. Results: The findings show that 83% of the participants reported experiences of discrimination and different types of violence due to their intersexuality. There was a significant difference between the intersex-identifying and endosex groups in psychological well-being, including in three of its dimensions (positives relations, autonomy, and environmental mastery). However, there were no significant differences between the groups in quality of life or social well-being. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide a preliminary understanding of the health disparities of intersex-identifying individuals in Puerto Rico and suggest the need for more profound research, especially the inclusion of other Caribbean and Hispanic countries. The findings also preliminarily imply the need for local and global interventions to reduce physical and mental health disparities and to improve health, quality of life, and well-being among intersex-identifying individuals.

Keywords: intersexuality; differences in sex development; quality of life; psychological well-being; social well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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