Humanistic Studies and Social Researches

Abstract Background: Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals experience significant mental health disparities, including elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality, largely attributable to minority stress. Gender transition can ameliorate gender dysphoria but also introduces psychosocial challenges. Social support is theorized as a critical moderator of mental health outcomes during this process.
Objective: To systematically review and evaluate contemporary evidence on the impact of multifaceted social support on the mental health of TGD individuals throughout gender transition.
Methods: A narrative synthesis of empirical literature (2010-2025) was conducted. Databases searched included PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Keywords included "gender dysphoria," "social support," "transitioning," "mental health," and "transgender." Included studies focused on TGD populations, assessed social support as a variable, and measured mental health or well-being outcomes.
Results: Consistent evidence from 40 reviewed studies indicates that affirming social support from family, peers, partners, healthcare providers, and community structures is strongly associated with superior mental health outcomes. This includes significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and suicidality, alongside improved quality of life, self-esteem, and treatment adherence. Familial acceptance, in particular, is a potent protective factor for youth. Conversely, support rejection, especially familial rejection, is linked to exponentially worse outcomes, including homelessness and survival sex work.
Conclusion: Social support is a fundamental determinant of mental health resilience in TGD populations. It directly buffers minority stress and facilitates successful transitioning. Clinical practice must routinely assess and foster support networks, while policy must aim to create structurally affirming environments. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and focus on under-represented subgroups.

Abstract Background: Grief is a psychobiological universal, yet its expression and management are culturally prescribed. The dominance of Western, individualistic grief models in theory and clinical practice risks pathologizing normative cross-cultural variations in bereavement.
Objective: To systematically review and synthesize contemporary empirical and theoretical literature on the influence of culture on coping mechanisms for grief and loss.
Methods: A narrative review methodology was employed. Electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, AnthroSource) were searched for peer-reviewed articles and key texts published between 2000-2024. Search terms included combinations of "grief," "mourning," "culture," "coping," "ritual," and "bereavement." Included works explicitly addressed cultural dimensions, comparative frameworks, or non-Western models of grief.
Results: Analysis of the literature reveals that culture shapes grief through primary dimensions: individualism-collectivism, spiritual/religious worldviews, and communication norms. Key coping mechanisms are culturally structured through: (1) Ritualized practices (funerary rites, mourning periods), which provide somatic and social scripts for behavior; (2) Social support systems with formalized communal roles; (3) Varied expressions of emotionality, from high-expressivity to restrained, somatized presentations; and (4) The normative status of "continuing bonds" with the deceased, which is therapeutic in many cultural contexts.
Conclusion: Grief coping is not acultural but is fundamentally organized by cultural narratives, values, and social structures. Effective bereavement support requires cultural humility—moving beyond a checklist approach to engage with the bereaved individual’s specific cultural, familial, and spiritual framework. Culturally adaptive models of grief therapy are an urgent need in pluralistic societies.

Abstract Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects both motor and non-motor functions, with communication impairments playing a significant role in patients' quality of life and mental health. While motor symptoms are widely addressed, difficulties in speech, language comprehension, and cognitive processing are also critical challenges. This review explores the communication difficulties faced by PD patients, the impact on daily life, and strategies to improve communication, with a particular focus on how medical treatments, including anesthesiology, influence these outcomes.
Methods: A narrative review of studies published through October 2024 was conducted using digital repositories such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The focus was on research related to speech, language, cognitive functions, and social support for PD patients.
Results: PD patients frequently experience challenges in speech production, language comprehension, and cognitive processing, leading to diminished social interactions, isolation, and psychological distress. Medical treatments such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and anesthesia during surgeries can further impact cognitive function and postoperative communication, necessitating careful anesthetic management. Effective strategies like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, patient-centered care, and information communication technologies (ICTs) have shown potential in improving communication. Strong social support systems and improved health literacy are also essential for enhancing well-being and treatment adherence.
Conclusion: A holistic, multidisciplinary approach that integrates personalized communication strategies, robust social support, and specialized anesthetic management can significantly improve communication abilities and the overall quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.