Expecting Rejection: Understanding the Minority Stress Experiences of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Individuals

Brian A. Rood · Sari L. Reisner · Francisco I. Surace · Jae A. Puckett · Meredith R. Maroney · David W. Pantalone

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LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy Gender and Feminist Studies Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: 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, expecting rejection , 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.

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References

1995Minority Stress and Mental Health in Gay Men 2012A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: An adaptation of the Minority Stress Model.2013Stigma, Mental Health, and Resilience in an Online Sample of the US Transgender Population 2009Internalized stigma among sexual minority adults: Insights from a social psychological perspective.2006Attempted Suicide Among Transgender Persons 2012Experiences of Transgender-Related Discrimination and Implications for Health: Results From the Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study 2012Consensual qualitative research: A practical resource for investigating social science phenomena.2012The relationship between experiences of discrimination and mental health among lesbians and gay men: An examination of internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity as potential mechanisms.

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2021Associations between minority stress, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals: Systematic review and meta-analysis 2018Psychological Interventions Promoting Resilience Among Transgender Individuals: Transgender Resilience Intervention Model (TRIM)2017Transgender Medicare Beneficiaries and Chronic Conditions: Exploring Fee-for-Service Claims Data

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