The Gender Identity Reflection and Rumination Scale: Development and Psychometric Evaluation

The authors describe the development of the Gender Identity Reflection and Rumination Scale (GRRS), which measures rumination in the context of gender identity among transgender persons. GRRS items were formulated taking into account previous research on rumination, stigma stress, and identity processing. Two national U.S. samples were collected to investigate the psychometric properties of the GRRS, resulting in 3 factors of gender identity rumination: Reflection, Rumination, and Preoccupation With Others’ Perceptions.     

Assessment of a “Transgender Identity Stigma” scale among trans women in India: Findings from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses

Background: Sexual minority stigma has been shown to influence mental health and sexual risk, but limited research is available on measuring transgender-identity stigma among trans women in India. We adapted an Exposure to Transphobia scale to the Indian context and tested a 14-item Transgender Identity Stigma Questionnaire (TGISQ) among trans women in India. We aimed to assess and validate the factor structure of the TGISQ and to assess its reliability.

Methods: Data were from a cross-sectional survey among 300 trans women (including hijras/thirunangais) from six urban/semi-urban sites in India. The TGISQ consisted of self-reported ratings on 14 items. We initially conducted exploratory factor analysis, using principal axis factoring (PAF) and promax rotation, and assessed reliability (internal consistency) using Cronbach's alpha; we then conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess construct validity (factorial validity). Construct validity of the final 13-item Transgender Identity Stigma Scale (TGISS) was also examined by computing Pearson's correlations between TGISS and relevant theoretical constructs (e.g., depression, social support).

Results: PAF identified two factors: enacted stigma (5 items) and felt normative stigma (8 items). The final 13-item TGISS had high reliability and acceptable construct validity.

Conclusions: The TGISS was found to have adequate psychometric properties, making it the first valid and reliable scale to measure stigma and discrimination faced by trans women in India. Future studies can further refine TGISS, which might help in comparing the differences in stigma experiences among diverse subgroups of trans women, and in monitoring and evaluating the success of stigma reduction programs.     

Health disparities between binary and non binary trans people: A community-driven survey

Abstract

Background: Genderqueer and nonbinary () people have remained largely invisible in health research. Previous research shows worse outcomes on health indicators for trans people when compared with cisgender controls, but the differences between binary trans and GQNB individuals are inconclusive.

Aims: To compare overall health and well-being of GQNB people with controls of trans men and trans women, taking into account the impact of the additive effect of their socio-economic position, as well as their current need for gender affirming medical interventions.

Methods: A community-driven survey was conducted in 2016 in five countries (Georgia, Poland, Serbia, Spain, and Sweden). Self-reported health and general well-being were analysed for differences between binary trans and GQNB respondents. The effects of multiple control variables (age, economic situation, educational level, belonging to an ethnic, religious, sexual or ability minority group, sex assigned at birth) as well as the current need for gender affirming medical interventions were controlled for.

Results: The sample consisted of 853 respondents aged 16 and older, with 254 trans women (29.8%), 369 trans men (43.2%), and 230 GQNB people (26%). GQNB respondents showed significantly worse self-reported health and worse general well-being in comparison to binary trans respondents. Additional negative impacts of having a lower educational level, having more economic stress, and belonging to a disability minority group were found. Being in need of gender affirming medical interventions contributed significantly to worse self-reported health, whereas being younger contributed to worse general well-being.

Discussion: In understanding health disparities between binary trans and GQNB people, it is necessary to take into account the additive effect of multiple socio-economic positions, and the current need for gender affirming medical interventions. The high proportion of GQNB respondents who report worse health outcomes highlights the need for policy makers and health-care providers in creating nonbinary-inclusive environments.     

“I Am My Own Gender”: Resilience Strategies of Trans Youth

Nineteen trans youth participated in a phenomenological study of their resilience strategies for navigating stressors in their lives. The authors identified 5 supports and 6 threats to participants’ resilience. The 5 themes of resilience were: (a) ability to self‐define and theorize one's gender, (b) proactive agency and access to supportive educational systems, (c) connection to a trans‐affirming community, (d) reframing of mental health challenges, and (e) navigation of relationships with family and friends. The 6 major threats to participants’ resilience were: (a) experiences of adultism, (b) health care access challenges, (c) emotional and social isolation, (d) employment discrimination, (e) limited access to financial resources, and (f) gender policing.     

Australian Trans Men: Development,Sexuality, and Mental Health

The aim of the study reported in this article was to gain an understanding of the experiences, developmental trajectories, and mental health status of Australian trans men. Participants were 279 trans men. The majority preferred to identify as “male”; from an early age, they had experienced their gender identity as different from that normatively expected of their natally assigned sex and had undertaken practices so as to facilitate their presentation as male in accordance with their gender identity. A majority reported a diagnosis of depression or anxiety within the last 12 months and attributed suicidal ideation and self‐harm and attempted suicide to personal issues with gender identity. Going through a masculinisation process and coming out reportedly led to improved mental health. The findings highlight the need to educate mental health and health care professionals on trans issues.     

The Misunderstood Gender: A Model of Modern Femme Identity

Femme identity remains a highly controversial topic. It has been maligned in both heterosexual and queer contexts, and is rarely represented in empirical literature. In this study we examined how femme women experience their own gender identity. Interviews were conducted with femme-identified lesbians; the focus was upon 4 content areas: identity development, experiences in the lesbian community, heterosexual society, and romantic relationships. The interviews were analyzed using Grounded Theory (B. J. Glaser & A. Strauss, 1967), an empirical method of generating models of subjective phenomena. The core category in this model Maintaining integrity: Upholding beliefs about sexual desire and gender representation reflects the need to uphold their sense of integrity across a variety of contexts by confronting stereotypes about both women and lesbians.     

The myth of persistence: Response to “A critical commentary on follow-up studies and ‘desistance’ theories about transgender and gender non-conforming children” by Temple Newhook et al. (2018)

ABSTRACT

Temple Newhook et al. (2018) provide a critique of recent follow-up studies of children referred to specialized gender identity clinics, organized around rates of persistence and desistance. The critical gaze of Temple Newhook et al. examined three primary issues: (1) the terms persistence and desistance in their own right; (2) methodology of the follow-up studies and interpretation of the data; and (3) ethical matters. In this response, I interrogate the critique of Temple Newhook et al. (2018).