The relational pathway to distress: microaggression/harassment, interpersonal relationship strain, and perceived gender recognition in trans, gender-diverse, and non-binary people

Objective Trans, gender-diverse, and non-binary (TGN) individuals experience disproportionately higher rates of psychological distress compared to cisgender peers. This study explored whether the relational variables of social gender role recognition (SGRR) and interpersonal relationship strain mediate the association between external minority stress (microaggressions/harassment) and psychological distress.Methods 304 TGN adults (18–75 years, M = 31.64, SD = 10.23), in Australia, Ireland, UK and USA were recruited via online convenience sampling. Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey, and data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).Results The final SEM accounted for 65.6% of the variance in psychological distress. Microaggressions/harassment directly predicted lower SGRR and greater relationship strain but not psychological distress. SGRR did not significantly predict relationship strain or psychological distress. The only direct predictor of psychological distress was relationship strain, with a large, positive effect. A significant indirect effect was identified, whereby microaggressions/harassment influenced psychological distress via relationship strain.Conclusions Findings provide partial support for the model, identifying that the psychological toll of microaggressions is predominantly accounted for by the strain they place on interpersonal relationships. Implications relate to moving beyond individual symptom management by promoting gender-affirming environments as a critical structural intervention to protect TGN wellbeing.