“An environment of fear no matter where I go”: A mixed-methods examination of transgender and gender diverse experiences while facing antitransgender legislation.
Mixed-methods study reveals structural stressors from antitransgender laws drive distress in transgender individuals, highlighting the protective buffer of social support.
Key Points
To examine how structural stressors from antitransgender legislation affect psychological distress among transgender and gender-diverse individuals alongside interpersonal discrimination and social support.
Surveyed transgender and gender-diverse adults from the United States (N = 346) regarding interpersonal stressors, structural stressors, community connection, and mental health.
Analyzed quantitative survey relationships using psychometric network analysis.
Evaluated qualitative open-ended responses concerning the effects of antitransgender legislation using reflexive thematic analysis.
Psychometric network analysis demonstrated that structural stressors related to antitransgender legislation had a significantly stronger link to psychological distress than everyday interpersonal discrimination.
Social support was identified as a vital protective factor significantly associated with reduced psychological distress.
Reflexive thematic analysis established four central themes: proximal and distal impacts of legislation, mobility and agency, experiences of privilege, and profound psychological distress.