TITLE:
Marginalization and Health Outcomes in Female Sex Workers: The Mediating Role of Resource Accessibility
AUTHORS:
Stavroula Triantafyllidou, Anna Apostolidou, Despoina Theodoropoulou, Georgia Malfa, Semina Drolapa, Vefi Valsami, Melina Antonopoulou, Chrysa Kalogeraki, Konstantina Papastefanaki, Vaggelis Tsiaras, Clara Vlachodimitropoulos Rodriguez, Anna Kouroupou, Antonios Poulios
KEYWORDS:
Female Sex Workers, Resource Accessibility, Health Disparities, Marginalization, Mental Health, Physical Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
14,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The study examines accessibility to resources as a key determinant mediating the relationship between female sex workers’ (FSWs) multiple marginalized identities and their health. Methods: We gathered data from 81 cis and trans FSWs, beneficiaries of the community day center for sex workers “Red Umbrella Athens”. The tools used measured general health perceptions, generalized anxiety and depression, PTSD, and accessibility to resources. Results: The results of this study provide supporting evidence that FSWs with multiple marginalized identities report lower mental and physical health. Additionally, results show that accessing essential resources is related to mental (anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms) and physical health. Finally, FSWs’ health relation to multiple marginalized identities was found to be mediated by access to comprehensive support. Discussion: The results indicate that the challenges FSWs face are built into the system itself. The barriers to comprehensive support explain how multiple marginalized identities affect their health. Conclusion: Public health policy and practice need to focus on adopting more inclusive and intersectional approaches aiming to reduce health disparities. Equal access to healthcare and social services can be improved with decriminalization, mitigating the health inequalities faced by marginalized FSWs.