Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis

Thomas Lewis · David Matthew Doyle · Manuela Barreto · Debby Jackson

50 citations0/0 files storedSocial Science & Medicine

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LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy Gender and Feminist Studies HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Abstract

RATIONALE: Social relationships are important in bolstering health and well-being for everyone in the general population. For transgender people, strong supportive social relationships may be paramount to their overall health and well-being due to their marginalised status in society. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to investigate what is currently known about the social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners (e.g., family members, romantic partners). METHODS: Thirty-nine qualitative papers were extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed that related to social relationships of transgender people. These papers were analysed via a qualitative meta-synthesis. RESULTS: Forty-nine second-order themes were identified, initially organised into relational partner clusters (e.g., family, friends, work colleagues) for specific phenomena, then these were synthesized into five overarching conceptual themes: (1) Development of relationships through transition and beyond, (2) Coping strategies of transgender people and their relational partners, (3) Reciprocal support in social relationships, (4) Stigma enacted and ameliorated interpersonally, and (5) Influence of stigma on social health and well-being. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These overarching themes show the potential characteristics that assist in the health-buffering role of social relationships for transgender people and their relational partners. Of particular note, stigma was reported as a common negative experience by transgender people and their relational partners, and open communicative social relationships had positive effects on self-conceptualisations of identity, which were inferred to protect against the damaging effects of stigma. We discuss the various implications and applications of this meta-synthesis to future research and clinical settings as well as how it can inform healthcare policy to support transgender people.

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References

2003Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence.2001Conceptualizing Stigma 2010Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review 2019The STROBE guidelines 1999Perceiving pervasive discrimination among African Americans: Implications for group identification and well-being.2012A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: An adaptation of the Minority Stress Model.2015Transgender stigma and health: A critical review of stigma determinants, mechanisms, and interventions 2008Social Networks and Health

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