The psychological studies on transgender individuals mainly focus on the mental health of this population. However, this extremely narrow focus on mental health outcomes may result in the over-pathologization of a vulnerable population that may experience normative responses to pervasive discrimination, violence, and exclusion. Furthermore, the emphasis placed exclusively on individual problems denotes the risk of the continued neglect of relational, social, and political contexts from which suffering emerges, acquires significance, and can be treated. The main objective of the present study was to analyse the role of the dyadic adjustment and social support on the levels of psychological distress in a sample of 102 Italian transgender individuals (28.6% defined themselves as transgender women, 51.3% defined themselves as transgender men, 5.9% provided no response) with an average age of 30,75 years. A hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to test hypothesis. The tested model was significant (F = 6.44, p <.001). The total proportion of variance in the psychological distress explained by all of the independent variables was 41,4%. According to the standardized regression coefficient high levels of global psychological distress were associated with low levels of family support (β= - .313, p<.005) and dyadic adjustment (β= - .376, p< .001). The data confirmed that the support and acceptance of one's partner and family of origin represent an important protective factor with respect to negative psychological health outcomes. The findings emphasize the need to develop specific clinical and social practices for transgender individuals and their families and suggest that building family- and partner-centered policies and programs is particularly important to enable transgender individuals to avoid paying the emotional and psychological costs associated with rejection and non-acceptance.
The role of dyadic adjustment and family support in predicting psychological distress in a sample of Italian transgender individuals
Lampis J.
;De Simone S.;Lasio D.;Serri F.
2021-01-01
Abstract
The psychological studies on transgender individuals mainly focus on the mental health of this population. However, this extremely narrow focus on mental health outcomes may result in the over-pathologization of a vulnerable population that may experience normative responses to pervasive discrimination, violence, and exclusion. Furthermore, the emphasis placed exclusively on individual problems denotes the risk of the continued neglect of relational, social, and political contexts from which suffering emerges, acquires significance, and can be treated. The main objective of the present study was to analyse the role of the dyadic adjustment and social support on the levels of psychological distress in a sample of 102 Italian transgender individuals (28.6% defined themselves as transgender women, 51.3% defined themselves as transgender men, 5.9% provided no response) with an average age of 30,75 years. A hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to test hypothesis. The tested model was significant (F = 6.44, p <.001). The total proportion of variance in the psychological distress explained by all of the independent variables was 41,4%. According to the standardized regression coefficient high levels of global psychological distress were associated with low levels of family support (β= - .313, p<.005) and dyadic adjustment (β= - .376, p< .001). The data confirmed that the support and acceptance of one's partner and family of origin represent an important protective factor with respect to negative psychological health outcomes. The findings emphasize the need to develop specific clinical and social practices for transgender individuals and their families and suggest that building family- and partner-centered policies and programs is particularly important to enable transgender individuals to avoid paying the emotional and psychological costs associated with rejection and non-acceptance.
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