Internalized transphobia and psychological distress among transgender and gender non-confirming emerging adults: The mediating roles of social support and gender identity disclosure.

Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals encounter distinct challenges that can significantly impact their psychological well-being. Among these challenges, internalized transphobia -where individuals internalize societal stigma related to their gender identity-emerges as a critical stressor potentially exacerbating psychological distress. This study aims to explore these mechanisms by examining how social support and gender identity disclosure indirectly affect the relationship between internalized transphobia and psychological distress among TGNC emerging adults. Data for this secondary analysis were drawn from a study among emerging adults aged 18-29 in California. Recruitment occurred between 2020 and 2021 through a combination of online and offline methods. The current analysis focused on TGNC participants (n = 270), assessing internalized transphobia with an adapted scale (alpha = 0.92), psychological distress with the Kessler K6 scale (alpha = 0.90), social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (alpha = 0.92), and gender identity disclosure with a modified concealed sexual identity scale (alpha = 0.85). Path analyses were conducted using RStudio. Participants had a mean age of 22.9 years (SD = 3.1) and 58.9 % screened positive for psychological distress. Internalized transphobia showed a positive correlation with psychological distress (r = 0.14, p < 0.05) and negative correlations with both outness (r = -0.49) and social support (r = -0.22). Path analyses revealed that both social support and gender identity disclosure indirectly affected the association between internalized transphobia and psychological distress. Our findings underscore the profound impact of internalized transphobia on psychological distress among TGNC individuals. Social support partially mitigates the negative effects of internalized transphobia, while greater outness significantly buffers psychological distress. These insights highlight the necessity of interventions that not only address internalized stigma but also bolster social support networks and encourage visibility. Enhancing these areas can significantly improve mental health outcomes for TGNC individuals, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and supportive approaches in mental health strategies.