1 School of Nursing, Program for the Study of LGBT Health, Columbia University , New York, New York.
2 Division of Gender, Sexuality, and Health, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Department of Psychiatry , New York, New York.
LGBT Health. 2018 Jan;5(1):54-60. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2017.0034. Epub 2017 Nov 3.
This study examined internalized transnegativity and psychological distress in two age groups of transgender individuals who identified their gender identity on the feminine spectrum (rather than congruent with their male sex assigned at birth). Due to greater visibility and acceptance of gender diversity in the United States, we hypothesized that internalized transnegativity would be lower in the younger compared with the older group, and that the younger generation would, therefore, report lower levels of psychological distress than the older generation.
The study sample consisted of trans-feminine individuals (N = 440) who completed a online survey of the U.S. transgender population and comprised a younger group aged 18-24 years (n = 133) and an older group aged 40 years and older (n = 307). Internalized transnegativity was assessed using the Transgender Identity Survey, and psychological distress was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory 18. We used regression and mediation analysis to examine differences between the two groups.
Contrary to our expectations, the older group reported significantly lower levels of both internalized transnegativity and psychological distress compared with the younger group. Internalized transnegativity partially mediated the relationship between age group and psychological distress.
Despite greater visibility of transgender people and increasing acceptance of gender diversity in the United States, the younger trans-feminine individuals reported more psychological distress than the older transfeminine individuals, which was, in part, related to internalized transnegativity. Trans-feminine individuals may benefit from culturally sensitive and clinically competent mental health services to alleviate internalized transnegativity and psychological distress.
本研究考察了两组认同女性性别认同（而非与出生时的男性性别相符）的跨性别个体的内化跨性别否定和心理困扰。由于美国对性别多样性的可见度和接受度增加，我们假设年轻组的内化跨性别否定程度低于年长组，因此年轻一代的心理困扰水平低于年长一代。
研究样本由跨女性个体（N=440）组成，他们完成了一项美国跨性别人口的在线调查，包括年龄在 18-24 岁的年轻组（n=133）和年龄在 40 岁及以上的年长组（n=307）。使用跨性别认同调查评估内化跨性别否定，使用Brief Symptom Inventory 18 评估心理困扰。我们使用回归和中介分析来检验两组之间的差异。
与我们的预期相反，年长组报告的内化跨性别否定和心理困扰水平均明显低于年轻组。内化跨性别否定部分中介了年龄组和心理困扰之间的关系。
尽管美国跨性别者的可见度增加，对性别多样性的接受度提高，但年轻的跨女性个体报告的心理困扰比年长的跨女性个体多，这在一定程度上与内化跨性别否定有关。跨女性个体可能受益于文化敏感和临床能力强的心理健康服务，以减轻内化跨性别否定和心理困扰。
