Interpersonal Functioning Among Treatment-Seeking Trans Individuals.

OBJECTIVES

Trans people have been found to have high levels of depression. In view of the association between interpersonal problems and depression and the importance of interpersonal skills to navigate the transition of trans people, this study aims to investigate the levels of interpersonal problems among treatment-seeking trans men and women and the role of depression in this association.

METHOD: A total of 104 patients from a UK gender identity clinic and 104 age- and gender-matched control participants completed self-report measures of interpersonal problems and general psychopathology, including depression.

RESULTS

Trans people reported significantly higher scores on global interpersonal problems and on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-32 (IIP-32) Hard to be Sociable, Hard to be Supportive, and Hard to be Involved subscales and lower scores on the Too Open subscale. Depression accounted for significant differences on IIP-32 global and the Too Open subscale but not on Hard to be Sociable, Hard to be Supportive, and Hard to be Involved subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Trans individuals present with interpersonal problems, which could potentially increase their vulnerability to mental health problems. Therefore, addressing interpersonal problems may help to prevent the development of depressive symptomatology and facilitate transition.