Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2010 Dec;17(10):909-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01624.x. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
• Transsexual persons are increasing their visibility in society, and health care providers and others (such as social workers) will be called upon to help with issues that transsexual persons face. Challenges that face transsexual persons often include issues involving relationships. Psychiatric and mental health nurses and other caregivers can increase their therapeutic skills in working with couples that include transsexual persons by becoming aware of these challenges and subsequent activities that can help with them. • This research study looks at couple relationships in which one partner reveals male-to-female transsexual identity. These are relationships that were established as man-woman and now will transition into relationships that include a male-to-female person and a female partner. • Common challenges for these couples include issues related to: (1) sexual identity and relationship uncertainty; (2) male-to-female transition decision making; and (3) presenting in public. • Relationship maintenance activities that helped the couples in the study maintain and strengthen their relationships through these challenges include: (1) communication; (2) self-talk (for example, putting the situation in perspective); (3) social networks; (4) positive interactions; (5) impression management (for example, managing displays of affection in public); and (6) social activism.
This qualitative study describes the relational dynamics that help sustain relationships of couples that include male-to-female transsexual persons (MTF) and their natal female partners (NF) following disclosure of transsexualism. Relationship challenges and relationship maintenance activities are identified. Each partner in 17 MTF-NF couples participated in individual surveys and interviews. The data were coded for themes related to relationship challenges and activities. MTF-NF couples experience challenges within the contexts of their relationships and of society. These challenges include: (1) sexual identity and relationship uncertainty; (2) male-to-female transition decision making; and (3) public presentation. Relationship maintenance activities enabled the study couples to maintain and strengthen their relationships through these challenges. These activities include: (1) communication; (2) self-talk; (3) social networks; (4) positivity; (5) impression management; and (6) social activism. Via this report, psychiatric and mental health nurses can increase their therapeutic skills in working with MTF-NF couples.
跨性别者在社会中的可见度不断提高，医疗保健提供者和其他人员（如社会工作者）将被要求帮助解决跨性别者面临的问题。跨性别者面临的挑战通常包括涉及人际关系的问题。精神科和心理健康护士以及其他护理人员可以通过了解这些挑战以及随后可以帮助解决这些问题的活动，来提高与包括跨性别者在内的夫妇合作的治疗技能。
本研究着眼于伴侣关系，其中一方透露了男性到女性的跨性别身份。这些关系原本是男女关系，现在将过渡到包括男性到女性和女性伴侣的关系。
这些夫妇常见的挑战包括与以下方面相关的问题：（1）性身份和关系不确定性；（2）男性到女性的过渡决策；和（3）公开露面。
帮助研究中的夫妇通过这些挑战维持和加强关系的关系维持活动包括：（1）沟通；（2）自我对话（例如，从不同角度看待情况）；（3）社交网络；（4）积极互动；（5）印象管理（例如，在公共场合管理表达爱意）；和（6）社会活动家。
本定性研究描述了有助于维持包括男性到女性跨性别者（MTF）及其先天女性伴侣（NF）的伴侣关系的关系动态，这些伴侣在跨性别身份被披露后。确定了关系挑战和关系维持活动。17 对 MTF-NF 夫妇的每对伴侣都参与了个人调查和访谈。对与关系挑战和活动相关的主题进行了编码。MTF-NF 夫妇在关系背景和社会背景下都面临挑战。这些挑战包括：（1）性身份和关系不确定性；（2）男性到女性的过渡决策；和（3）公开露面。关系维持活动使研究夫妇能够通过这些挑战维持和加强他们的关系。这些活动包括：（1）沟通；（2）自我对话；（3）社交网络；（4）积极性；（5）印象管理；和（6）社会活动家。通过这份报告，精神科和心理健康护士可以提高与 MTF-NF 夫妇合作的治疗技能。
