The article “Minorités sexuelles et de genre dans les soins et services en Estrie : analyse écosystémique du stress et de la résilience” (Sexual and gender minorities in health and social services in Estrie: An ecosystemic analysis of stress and resilience) was published in 2026 in Érudit.
Julie Christine Cotton*1, Sophie Parent*2, Sandy Nadeau*3, Christine Loignon*4 et Mathé-Manuel Daigneault *5.
- Département des sciences de la santé communautaire, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke
- Université Laval
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Laboratoire de recherche inclusif de l’Université de Sherbrooke
Cotton, J.-C., Parent, S., Nadeau, S., Loignon, C. et Daigneault, M.-M. (2026). Minorités sexuelles et de genre dans les soins et services en Estrie : analyse écosystémique du stress et de la résilience. Revue de psychoéducation, 55(1), 47-71. https://doi.org/10.7202/1125125ar
Context
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are overrepresented in certain mental and physical health problems, while also facing inequalities in access to care and services, particularly in regional areas. This study aimed to identify the stress and resilience factors experienced by SGM people in Estrie, in health and social services as well as in other spheres of their lives.
Method
The study draws on qualitative data from a provincial survey conducted in Quebec (Cotton et al., 2021). Nineteen sexual and/or gender minority people, aged 16 to 65 and living in Estrie, took part in four online focus groups. The verbatim transcripts were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach, based on the minority stress model and the ecosystemic model.
Results
The results show the presence of stressors at several systemic levels. In health and social services, participants reported, among other things, barriers to access, a lack of recognition of their sexual orientation or gender identity, experiences of discrimination, and the burden of sometimes having to educate professionals.
These stressors also occur in other life settings, such as family, school, work, and the sociopolitical context. Their accumulation may contribute to the anticipation of negative experiences, concealment of sexual orientation or gender identity, isolation, and psychological distress.
The resilience factors identified were mainly rooted in close social networks, including friends, certain family members, 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations, and allies in school or service settings, revealing a lack of formal and systemic support.
Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of understanding resilience among SGM people from an ecological and collective perspective. The results suggest that adaptation should not rest solely on the individuals concerned or their close networks, but rather be supported through structural transformations in professional practices, organizations, and services.