The Impact of Social Connectedness and Internalized Transphobic Stigma on Self-Esteem Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 64; no. 6; pp. 825 - 841
• Main Authors: Austin, Ashley, Goodman, Revital
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 12.05.2017; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Aged; Connectedness; Defense Mechanisms; Discrimination; Female; Gays & lesbians; Gender; Gender Identity; Gender non-conforming; Humans; Internalization; Male; Marginality; Medical research; Middle Aged; minority stress; Modern society; Regression analysis; Residence Characteristics; Resilience; Self Concept; Self esteem; Social Distance; Social Stigma; Stigma; Stress; Transgender persons; Transgender Persons - psychology; transphobia; Transsexuality; Victimization; Victims; Well being; minority stress; self-esteem; stigma; transphobia; Gender non-conforming; resilience; transgender
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1236587

The transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) community continues to represent a notably marginalized population exposed to pervasive discrimination, microaggressions, and victimization. Congruent with the minority stress model, TGNC individuals persistently experience barriers to wellbeing in contemporary society; however, research uncovering resilience-based pathways to health among this population is sparse. This study aimed to explore the impact and interaction between internalized transphobic stigma and a potential buffer against minority stress-social connectedness-on the self-esteem of TGNC identified adults. Data were collected from 65 TGNC identified adults during a national transgender conference. Multiple regression analysis reveals that self-esteem is negatively impacted by internalized transphobia and positively impacted by social connectedness. Social connectedness did not significantly moderate the relationship between internalized transphobia and self-esteem. Micro and macro interventions aimed at increasing social connectedness and decreasing internalized transphobic stigma may be paramount for enhancing resiliency and wellbeing in the TGNC community.