Rood Brian A, Reisner Sari L, Surace Francisco I, Puckett Jae A, Maroney Meredith R, Pantalone David W
Department of Psychology, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Transgend Health. 2016 Aug 1;1(1):151-164. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2016.0012. eCollection 2016.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals often are the target of enacted or external (i.e., distal) experiences of stigma, discrimination, and violence, which are linked to adverse health, particularly psychological distress. There is limited research, however, examining felt or internal (i.e., proximal) stressors faced by TGNC individuals. This study sought to examine one type of internal stressor, , and aimed to (1) identify how and to what extent rejection expectations operate day-to-day for TGNC individuals and (2) explore how TGNC individuals respond to expectations of rejection. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 participants from 2014 to 2015 who identified as TGNC (mean age=30.4; 60% people of color); data were analyzed using a consensual qualitative research method. Four thematic categories emerged about expecting rejection: (1) where to expect rejection; (2) thoughts and feelings associated with expectations of rejection; (3) coping strategies used to manage the expectation of rejection; and (4) the intersection of race and ethnicity with rejection expectations. Findings from this study suggest that expecting rejection is a frequent and salient internal stressor for TGNC individuals. We discuss the psychological and cumulative potential health impact of minority stress, and the applicability of Meyer's Minority Stress Model. Therapeutic interventions are needed to address the specific cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses TGNC individuals experience as a result of the stress associated with expecting rejection, including fear, anxiety, and situational avoidance.
跨性别者和性别不一致者（TGNC）常常成为污名化、歧视和暴力行为的实施对象或外部（即远端）经历的目标，这些与不良健康状况，尤其是心理困扰有关。然而，研究跨性别者和性别不一致者所面临的感知到的或内在（即近端）压力源的研究有限。本研究旨在考察一种内在压力源，即预期被拒，并旨在（1）确定跨性别者和性别不一致者在日常生活中预期被拒的方式及程度，以及（2）探究跨性别者和性别不一致者如何应对预期被拒的情况。2014年至2015年，对30名自认为是跨性别者和性别不一致者的参与者进行了深入访谈（平均年龄 = 30.4岁；60%为有色人种）；采用共识定性研究方法对数据进行了分析。关于预期被拒出现了四个主题类别：（1）预期在何处被拒；（2）与预期被拒相关的想法和感受；（3）用于应对预期被拒的应对策略；以及（4）种族和民族与预期被拒的交叉情况。本研究结果表明，预期被拒是跨性别者和性别不一致者常见且突出的内在压力源。我们讨论了少数群体压力对心理和累积健康的潜在影响，以及迈耶少数群体压力模型的适用性。需要采取治疗性干预措施来应对跨性别者和性别不一致者因预期被拒所带来的压力而经历的特定认知、情绪和行为反应，包括恐惧、焦虑和情境回避。
