Gender Identity Milestones, Minority Stress and Mental Health in Three Generational Cohorts of Italian Binary and Nonbinary Transgender People.

Cristiano Scandurra,Vincenzo Bochicchio,Nelson Mauro Maldonato,Selene Mezzalira,Agostino Carbone,Roberto Baiocco

doi:10.3390/ijerph18179057

Abstract

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people experience high rates of minority stress and associated risk for negative health outcomes. However, during the last years, significant positive socio-cultural changes have happened, and younger cohorts of TGNC individuals are having diverse experiences compared to older cohorts. By integrating the minority stress theory and the life course perspective, this cross-sectional, web-based study aimed to explore in 197 Italian TGNC people aged 18 to 54 years (M = 29.82, SD = 9.64) whether the average ages of gender identity milestones (i.e., first insights about being TGNC, self-labeling as a TGNC person, and coming out), minority stress, and mental health vary among three generational cohorts (i.e., Generation Z, Millennials, and Generation X). Compared with older cohorts, younger participants: (a) were more likely to be in the trans-masculine spectrum; (b) self-labeled as TGNC and came out earlier; (c) had more negative expectations and lower levels of disclosure; and (d) had higher levels of mental health problems. No generational differences related to first insights about being TGNC and distal minority stressors were found. Furthermore, compared with binary individuals, participants with a non-binary identity: (a) reported later ages for the gender identity milestones; (b) had higher negative expectations; and (c) had higher levels of mental health problems. Overall, our findings indicated that changes in the social environments have a limited impact on stigmatization processes and mental health of Italian TGNC people.

Highlights

Within the minority stress theory (MST) and the life-course perspective (LCP), the current study aimed to explore whether the gender identity milestones, minority stress, and mental health vary among different generational cohorts of Italian Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals
The Generation Z cohorts were more likely to be in the trans-masculine spectrum than other gender groups, while Generation X cohorts were more likely to be in the transfeminine spectrum than other groups
Percentages of binary gender identity were higher in the Generation X cohorts, contrary to Hypothesis 1, no statistically significant associations were found between generational cohort and type of gender identification

Summary

Introduction

The term transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) refers to people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior differ from those typically associated with their sex assigned at birth [1]. TGNC individuals may have a binary or nonbinary gender identity. Those with a binary gender identity tend to identify themselves as women if assigned male at birth (AMAB) or men if assigned female at birth (AFAB). TGNC individuals with a nonbinary gender identity tend to identify themselves with neither exclusively masculine nor feminine gender, rejecting a binary view of gender identity [2]. A growing body of research has elucidated the psychosocial processes underlying the impressive rates of adverse health outcomes reported by TGNC

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