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Research Track
Oral Presentations
Ghazel Tellawi, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Minnesota- Program in Human Sexuality; National Center for Gender Spectrum Health
University of Minnesota- Program in Human Sexuality; National Center for Gender Spectrum Health
Nothing to disclose
Background : Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience disproportionately higher rates of mental health concerns compared to cisgender individuals (Su et al., 2016). These disparities do not result from TGD identities themselves; instead, minority stress theory posits that experiences of stigmatization, microaggressions, and discrimination that TGD individuals face are associated with negative health outcomes (Hatzenbuehler & Pachankis, 2016; Meyer, 2003). As TGD adults report higher levels of social stressors than their cisgender counterparts (Reisner et al., 2014), it is important to understand variables that exacerbate or ameliorate the impact of these experiences. While romantic relationships can serve as protective in certain individuals, they may be less supportive for TGD adults, literature suggests that romantic partners can contribute to experiences of minority stress (James et al., 2016). The purpose of the current study is to examine minority stress, mental health, and relationship experiences in TGD adults.
Methods : Data were drawn from the 2015 USTS, which assessed the experiences of TGD individuals (n = 27,715) throughout the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. military bases overseas. Participants completed a number of measures, including the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), a 6-item measure assessing psychological distress and a survey assessing various experiences of harm caused by a romantic or sexual partner.
Results : One-way ANOVA and Scheffe post hoc analyses indicated that those who were partnered and living together (M = 8.10, SD = 6.12) scored significantly lower on the K6 (F(8, 25424) = 46.70, p
Conclusions : The purpose of this study was to add to the growing body of literature addressing minority stress in TGD individuals, particularly within the context of sexual and romantic relationships. Results indicate that while having a partner may be associated with lower distress, experiences of minority stress in the context of a relationship are associated with increased psychological distress and risk of suicidal ideation/attempts. Given the already high rates of minority stress in TGD individuals, clinicians conducting therapy with TGD are encouraged to assess relationship experiences and how they may contribute to, or alleviate, negative outcomes associated with minority stress.