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. 2024;15(1):2408194.
doi: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2408194. Epub 2024 Oct 15.

Sex and gender considerations in cross-cultural traumatic stress studies

Rachel Langevin  1 , Sophie Beaudette  1 , Dany Laure Wadji  1 , Sara Abou Chabake  2 , Carolina Gonzalez  3 , Dan Jenkins  4 , Safa Kemal Kaptan  5 , Jessica Lambert  6 , Tilahun Belete Mossie  7 , Rosario Spencer  8
Affiliations

Sex and gender considerations in cross-cultural traumatic stress studies

Rachel Langevin et al. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Following the 1st Conference of the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress, the consortium committed to systematically integrating sex and gender considerations in their endeavours, which aligns with the European Journal of Psychotraumatology's Gender Policy. This initiative is vital for understanding trauma's complex impacts, but also presents significant challenges in cross-cultural research. This letter, co-authored by researchers from across the globe, outlines these challenges and proposes mitigation strategies. First, definitions of sex and gender are provided from a Western perspective, while acknowledging cultural differences in these concepts. Second, the relevance of integrating sex and gender considerations in traumatic stress studies is briefly described. Third, cultural distinctions and legal contexts shaping the understanding and inclusion of these concepts, with non-Western and low-to-middle income regions facing significant legal and ethical obstacles are highlighted. Methodological challenges including measurement, recruitment, and statistical modelling are discussed, followed by recommendations including participatory approaches that involve members of the community, including sexual and gender minority individuals, as possible, throughout the research process, conducting risk analyses, employing sensitive quantitative and qualitative methods, and ensuring clear reporting and participant protection. To conclude, with this letter, we hope to instigate dialogue and foster innovative approaches to incorporating sex and gender considerations in cross-cultural studies of traumatic stress. Addressing these considerations is essential for ethical, meaningful research that respects and safeguards diverse experiences.

Después de la 1o Conferencia de la Colaboración Global sobre Estrés Traumático, el consorcio se comprometió a integrar sistemáticamente las consideraciones de sexo y género en sus iniciativas, lo cual se alinea con la Política de Género de la Revista Europea de Psicotraumatología. Esta iniciativa es crucial para comprender los complejos impactos del trauma, pero también presenta desafíos importantes en la investigación transcultural. Esta carta, coescrita por investigadores de todo el mundo, describe estos desafíos y propone estrategias de mitigación. Primero, se proporcionan definiciones de sexo y género desde la perspectiva Occidental, a la vez que se reconocen las diferencias culturales en estos conceptos. Segundo, se describe brevemente la relevancia de integrar consideraciones de sexo y género en los estudios sobre estrés traumático. (3) Se destacan las distinciones culturales y los contextos legales que moldean la comprensión e inclusión de estos conceptos, con regiones no occidentales y de ingresos bajos a medios que enfrentan obstáculos legales y éticos significativos. Se discuten los desafíos metodológicos, incluyendo la medición, el reclutamiento y el modelo estadístico, seguido de recomendaciones que incluyen enfoques participativos que involucran a los miembros de la comunidad, incluidas personas de minorías sexuales y de género, en la medida de lo posible, durante todo el proceso de investigación, realizando análisis de riesgo, empleando métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos sensibles, y garantizando informes claros y la protección de los participantes. Para concluir, con esta carta, esperamos iniciar un diálogo y fomentar enfoques innovadores para incorporar consideraciones de sexo y género en los estudios transculturales sobre el estrés traumático. Abordar estas consideraciones es esencial para llevar a cabo investigaciones éticas y significativas que respeten y protejan diversas experiencias.

Keywords: Estrés postraumático; Post-traumatic stress; cross-cultural studies; cultura; culture; estudios transculturales; gender; género; metodologías de investigación; research methodologies; sex; sexo.

Plain language summary

Sex and gender considerations are essential to further our understanding of trauma and its consequences.Considering sex and gender poses significant legal, ethical, and methodological challenges in cross-cultural studies involving non-Western and low-to-middle-income countries.Proposed mitigation strategies include using participatory approaches that involve members of the community, including sexual and gender minority individuals, as possible in research teams, conducting risk analyses, sensitive quantitative and qualitative methods, and clear reporting.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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