Kai Jacobsen

B.A. Hons. in Sociology, University of Victoria, 2021
M.A. in Sociology, Carleton University, 2024

Kai (they/them) is a nonbinary person and trans health researcher. They are an experienced community leader, facilitator, and academic researcher. They are passionate about research that catalyzes social and systemic change to improve the health and well-being of their community. Both personally and professionally, they have seen how research that does not accurately reflect the experiences of the trans community leads to inaccessible and invalidating health care services. Conversely, they have witnessed how community-based research can empower queer and trans communities and make meaningful contributions to designing and improving health care systems. They decided to pursue a PhD to gain the skills needed to bridge the worlds of academia, community, and health care.

Improving Gender-Affirming Health Care for Trans People by Promoting Gender Euphoria
Trans and nonbinary people experience much worse mental health and access to health care compared to cisgender people. However, many trans people find that their mental health is much better after receiving gender-affirming medical interventions, such as hormones and chest or genital surgeries. Typically, gender-affirming care focuses on reducing dysphoria or distress related to conflict between a trans individual’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth. However, many trans people also report experiencing increased gender euphoria (positive gender-related emotions) from gender-affirming care. While gender euphoria is linked to improved mental health and wellbeing, there is very little research on gender euphoria. Specifically, there is no research on how healthcare providers can help promote gender euphoria through gender-affirming care. This research seeks to fill this gap by identifying patient preferences and promising practices for how health care providers can promote gender euphoria to improve the health and wellbeing of trans people. Using qualitative interviews and a community advisory board, research methods will centre the voices and lived experience of trans people themselves. The findings will be used to help health care providers improve the quality of care they provide for their trans patients. Ultimately, improved gender-affirming care will lead to better mental health and wellbeing for trans people.

Jacobsen, K. (2024). Prioritizing Trans Autonomy over Medical Authority in Gender-Affirming Care: The Role of Risk and Uncertainty. Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies, 3(1-2), 1-19.

Jacobsen, K., & Devor, A. (2022). Moving from gender dysphoria to gender euphoria: Trans experiences of positive gender-related emotions. Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies, 1(1-2), 119-143.

Jacobsen, K., Devor, A., & Hodge, E. (2022). Who Counts as Trans? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Trans Tumblr Posts. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 46(1), 60-81.

Jacobsen, K., Hu, A. T. Y., Stark, A., Klassen, B. J., Lachowsky, N. J., & Hébert, W. (2022). Prevalence and Correlates of Incarceration Among Trans Men, Non-Binary People, and Two-Spirit People in Canada. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 29(1).

Jacobsen, K., Davis, C. E., Burchell, D., Rutherford, L., Lachowsky, N., Bauer, G., & Scheim, A. (2023). Misgendering and the health and wellbeing of nonbinary people in Canada. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1-15.

Adams, N., Jacobsen, K., Li, L., Francino, M., Rutherford, L., Tei, C., Scheim, A., & Bauer, G. (2024). Health and Health Care Access of Autistic Transgender and Nonbinary People in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study. Autism in Adulthood, 00(00).

Ingram, M., & Jacobsen, K. (2024). Both because of and in spite of: Towards the reclamation of queercrip joy. Sexualities, 0(0), 1-16.