Impact of minority stress and resilience on post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity among a sample of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals.

BACKGROUND

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive (TNGE) individuals experience disproportionately high levels of discrimination and violence. These chronic stressors can disrupt stress responses and increase vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of gender minority stress and resilience on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity among TNGE individuals receiving outpatient medical or psychiatric care.

METHODS

Individuals (N = 103) receiving gender-affirming healthcare services at one of two university-affiliated practice settings completed an anonymous survey measuring PTSD symptom severity and gender minority stress and resilience.

RESULTS

One-third of participants met provisional criteria for PTSD. No significant differences in PTSD symptoms were found based on assigned sex at birth, current gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, or race/ethnicity. Distal stressor subscales accounted for approximately 40% of variance in PTSD symptom severity in a hierarchical regression model. Proximal stressors and resilience subscales accounted for an additional 7% and 3% of variance, respectively.

DISCUSSION: TNGE individuals' experiences of gender minority stress, especially distal stressors, may constitute risk factors for PTSD. Interventions to foster community engagement may offer valuable mental health benefits for TNGE persons.