“The only choice I’ve made is to tell you who I am”: how trans-masculine and non-binary young people and caregivers in rural Scotland make sense of their experiences

Introduction Trans young people experience disproportionate levels of mental health issues, potentially due to minority stressors, including discrimination and reduced access to support networks and healthcare. Disparities may be especially pronounced in rural areas, and caregiver responses particularly salient for young people. This study qualitatively investigated the experiences of trans young people and caregivers living in rural Scotland and how they make sense of them.Method A multi-perspective Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design was used, interviewing one non-binary and three trans-masculine 17-18-year-olds, and three caregivers of trans-masculine young people, all living in rural Scotland.Results Group Experiential Themes (GETs) were developed using IPA: for young people “self-discovery as a means through which conflicts between one’s identity and cisnormative societal rules are resolved”, for caregivers “engaging in a reciprocal process of growth, learning from their young person’s commitment to becoming their authentic self” and for the combined sample “identity and relationship security as sources of strength in a cisnormative world”. Drawing strength from identity and supportive others was more important than geographical location.Discussion Trans young people engage in a process of becoming themselves, developing maturity and complex understandings of themselves, others, and gender, as they navigate the conflicts between their identity and cisnormative standards. Relationships with caregivers are renegotiated, with caregivers learning from and advocating for their young person. A secure identity and supportive relationships form sources of strength. Trans young people’s needs must be understood within the context of both their gender and their evolving capacities.