Social-Contextual Influences on Eating Pathology in Transgender and Nonbinary Adults of Color

Research indicates that eating pathology, an often lethal cluster of behavioral health concerns, is elevated among Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and among trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TGD) people. There is a pressing need to add to the sparse knowledge base about experiences and precipitating factors surrounding eating pathology at the intersection of race and gender. The researchers recruited 161 TGD BIPOC participants who completed measures of internalized transphobia, discrimination trauma, gender dysphoria, and eating pathology. Results indicate that both race- and gender-based discrimination trauma predict eating pathology. Implications for counselors are discussed.