- Review Article
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Factors that drive mental health disparities and promote well-being in transgender and nonbinary people
Nature Reviews Psychologyvolume 1, pages694–707 (2022)Cite this article
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Abstract
Transgender (or trans) is an umbrella term for individuals who experience their gender differently from what is associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Individuals who are nonbinary experience their gender outside binary conceptions of gender. Although research has predominantly focused on negative mental health outcomes for transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals, an emergent literature has begun to explore protective and health-promoting factors and dimensions of psychological well-being. In this Review, we discuss the sociocultural context for TNB people, beginning with a brief history of TNB identity before highlighting frameworks for understanding the higher prevalence of certain mental health concerns among TNB individuals. Next, we summarize the predictive factors associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, trauma-related concerns, disordered eating behaviours and substance use. We also review TNB coping, resilience and resistance to anti-trans stigma, as well as psychological well-being, flourishing and gender euphoria. Tying these topics together, we discuss affirming interventions for reducing mental health disparities and promoting psychological health in TNB individuals and communities. We conclude by discussing future research directions.
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School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Elliot A. Tebbe
Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Stephanie L. Budge
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Glossary
- Cisnormativity
The notion that cisgender identities are the norm and that variation from the gender binary is abnormal.
- Gender-affirming health-care
Healthcare that holistically attends to TNB individuals’ physical, mental and social health and well-being in ways that are explicitly respectful and affirming of their gender.
- Cisgenderism
The prejudice that accompanies cisnormativity.
- Misgendering
Addressing a TNB individual using a name or pronouns that are incongruent with the gender with which that individual identifies.
- Transphobia
An aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or other negative attitudes and beliefs about transgender people.
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Tebbe, E.A., Budge, S.L. Factors that drive mental health disparities and promote well-being in transgender and nonbinary people.Nat Rev Psychol1, 694–707 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-022-00109-0
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