Transgender and nonbinary individuals (TNBI) face disproportionate exposure to identity-based discrimination and violence, yet limited research has examined how discrimination prospectively influences trauma adaptation. This longitudinal study examined predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom adaptation among TNBI (N = 75, Mage = 30.6 years, 48.0% White, 44.0% nonbinary, 77.3% met PTSD criteria) with past-year DSM-5 Criterion A trauma exposure who completed structured diagnostic interviews and daily diary assessments at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Mixed linear modeling was used to estimate PTSD adaptation as a function of trauma characteristics and gender minority stress/resilience. A small, significant PTSD symptom reduction was observed over time, B = -0.44, p < .001. Average PTSD symptoms over time were significantly higher for participants with greater gender nonaffirmation exposure, B = 0.43, p = .039, and those who met the criteria for a mood disorder, B = 10.70, p < .001, at baseline. Participants whose "worst" trauma exposure entailed interpersonal violence, B = 9.26, p = .009; were revictimized, B = 7.83, p = .006; and experienced higher exposure to daily discrimination during the follow-up period, B = 0.52, p < .001, demonstrated significantly higher average PTSD symptom severity over time. Unexpectedly, identity pride was associated with significantly higher PTSD symptoms over time, B = 0.36, p = .031, whereas community connectedness was marginally associated with lower symptoms, B = -0.57, p = .054. Findings underscore the roles of identity affirmation, discrimination, and revictimization in shaping TNBI trauma adaptation.
Berke et al. (Thu,) studied this question.