Critical consciousness moderates the relationship between transphobia and "bathroom bill" voting

Attitudes towards Trans Men and Women in Spain: An Adaptation of the ATTMW Scale

This article presents the results of the adaptation and validation of the Attitudes Toward Trans Men and Women (ATTMW) scale-a measure capable of detecting transphobic positions towards trans men and women-in the Spanish context. A total of 310 prospective teachers from different stages of education participated in the study on its adaptation. In order to provide quantitative evidence of validity, confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis with different constructs and sociodemographic variables were carried out. Internal consistency reliability was adequate. The study demonstrated that the ATTMW is a psychometrically sound instrument for the assessment of attitudes towards trans people, especially with items that categorize trans women and men as second-class people.

"How Do I Exist in This Body…That's Outside of the Norm?" Trans and Nonbinary Experiences of Conformity, Coping, and Connection in Atypical Anorexia

Addressing eating disorders (EDs) within trans and nonbinary (TNB) populations is a growing concern, as TNB individuals are two to four times more likely to experience EDs than cisgender women. This study explored the lived experiences of TNB people with atypical anorexia by examining how gender identity impacted experiences of ED illness and (potential) recovery. Nine TNB adults with atypical anorexia were followed for one year and completed semi-structured, in-depth, longitudinal qualitative interviews at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Interviews were coded using Braun and Clark's thematic analysis procedures. Four themes, along with subthemes, emerged regarding the intersection of gender identity and ED experiences: (1) Conforming, (2) Coping, (3) Connecting, and (4) Critiquing. In Conforming, participants highlighted how societal pressures around gender contributed to ED vulnerability. In Coping, participants explained that their EDs represented attempts to cope with the overlapping influences of body dissatisfaction, gender dysphoria, and body disconnection. In Connecting, participants described ED recovery as a process of connecting to self, others, and communities that welcomed and affirmed their diverse identities. In Critiquing, participants described how current ED treatment settings were often unwelcoming of or unprepared for non-cisgender patients. Overall, participants viewed their EDs as intricately linked to their gender identity and experiences of social pressure and discrimination. This study suggests the need for targeted ED prevention and intervention efforts within TNB communities, and the ethical imperative to meaningfully address the needs of TNB patients in ED treatment settings.

Policy attitudes toward adolescents transitioning gender

Anti-transgender policies and state legislative initiatives that focus on school bathroom use and hormone use have emerged in recent years. These policies are generally written by and voted on by cisgender people, and as such, it is crucial to understand influences on nonaffirming attitudes toward policies that can impact trans youth. The present study aimed to extend research on transphobic attitudes in general to attitudes toward policies that impact youth undergoing transition. Latent variable covariances and structural equation modeling were used to test the relations between transphobia, genderism, homophobia, need for closure, sexual orientation, social dominance orientation, attitudes toward sexual minorities, beliefs about gender roles, aggression, religious fundamentalism, and contact with sexual and gender minority individuals, as they are related to attitudes toward hormone use and bathroom use for trans youth. Analyses of data from a sample of 248 cisgender adults indicated that genderism and transphobia was associated with attitudes toward gender-affirming hormone use and bathroom use for trans youth; need for closure was associated with gender-affirming attitudes toward bathroom use, but was not associated with hormone use. Sexual orientation was linked to attitudes toward gender-affirming policies, such that nonheterosexual participants had more affirming attitudes toward trans youths' bathroom use, but not hormone use. Implications for future research, advocacy efforts to promote rights for trans youth, and clinical work with trans youth and/or parents/guardians of trans youth are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Factors Associated with Transphobia: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Our study examined factors associated with transphobia with a particular focus on the interrelations between religious fundamentalism and contact to impact transphobia. We used an online sample of U.S. adults (Mean age = 38.91 years, SD = 12.58 years; n = 400) to conduct a partially latent variable SEM analysis and tested the direct effects of religious fundamentalism, contact, and gender on transphobia and the indirect effects of religious fundamentalism on transphobia through contact. We additionally tested for gender differences in the structural relations of the variables through a multi-group analysis. Results showed a statistically significant effect of religious fundamentalism, contact, and gender on transphobia. Religious fundamentalism also had a statistically significant indirect effect on transphobia through contact. Gender differences were also found for the effects of religious fundamentalism on contact and on transphobia. We conclude with implications for research and practice.

Psychological Wellbeing and Perceived Social Acceptance in Gender Diverse Individuals

BACKGROUND

Over the last few years, the gender binary has been questioned, highlighting the existence of gender diverse people, who identify as neither (exclusively) male nor female.

AIM

The present study evaluated the possible differences in terms of psychological wellbeing between binary and gender diverse individuals, as well as the role of perceived social acceptance and religious fundamentalism as possible mediators of psychopathology in gender diverse people. Furthermore, the diversity of gender-affirming hormonal treatment requests according to gender identification was investigated.

METHODS

A sample of 563 transgender people aged 18-70 was enrolled (n = 264 assigned female at birth, AFAB and n = 299 assigned male at birth, AMAB), all individuals referring to several Italian gender clinics. A subdivision of the study population based on the gender identity visual analog scale (GI-VAS) median was performed, in order to distinguish between gender diverse and binary transgender individuals. Moreover, a linear regression analysis was performed entering logarithmically transformed GI-VAS (Log GI-VAS) into the models with psychometric scales.

OUTCOMES

Psychometric and sociodemographic data, as well as information regarding requests for gender-affirming treatments, were extrapolated from the clinical interviews conducted during the first referral.

RESULTS

Gender diverse individuals showed significantly less intense gender dysphoria and higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to binary ones; accordingly, a less binary gender identity correlated with higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower levels of gender dysphoria. The depressive symptomatology in gender diverse people was partially mediated by perceived discrimination and humiliation. Moreover, gender diverse AMAB people sought a non-standard hormonal treatment more often than their binary counterpart.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The present study highlights the importance for transgender health professionals, when planning gender-affirming hormonal treatments, to offer flexible interventions, tailored on the patient's needs and goals.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS

Strengths included exploring whether and how perceived discrimination may affect mental health in gender diverse people. Limitations included the enrolled sample of people referring to different gender clinics, which is not fully representative of the transgender population.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of evaluating each individual's unique health care needs, exploring each single request and its underlying reasons. Romani A., Mazzoli F., Ristori J., et al. Psychological Wellbeing and Perceived Social Acceptance in Gender Diverse Individuals. J Sex Med 2021;18:1933-1944.

"In the Bible Belt:" The role of religion in HIV care and prevention for transgender people in the United States South

Within the United States South, the socio-religious norms that shape life for many residents may have public health implications. Drawing from 12 key informant interviews, this study explores the role of religious institutions in HIV care and prevention access among transgender people of color in Southern cities. Findings suggest that while religious anti-transgender stigma is pervasive, the regional importance of faith-based beliefs and institutions necessitates targeted faith-based initiatives for the population. Broadly, findings suggest regional environments may demand interventions that negotiate historically marginalizing relationships between at-risk groups and dominant cultural institutions.

Youth Perspectives regarding the Regulating of Bathroom Use by Transgender Individuals

Regulations regarding bathroom use by transgender people affect youth across the United States. This study examines youth opinions on bathroom use regulations. Data were obtained from MyVoice, a weekly text messaging survey of youth aged 14-24 years. Youth were recruited nationally at community events and online; Southeast Michigan was overrepresented. Mixed methods analysis was performed using grounded theory methodology. The majority of respondents (n = 683) were white (71.4%) and had education beyond high school (56.5%). Most (79%) stated that bathroom use by transgender people should not be restricted, rationalizing: 1) bathroom use is private and should be a personal decision; 2) choosing bathrooms is a matter of equality, freedom, and human rights; 3) transgender people are not sexual perpetrators; and 4) forcing transgender people to use particular bathrooms puts them at risk. Contrary to the current policy in many schools, respondents do not support restrictions on bathroom use by transgender people.

Intergroup Threat and Heterosexual Cisgender Women’s Support for Policies Regarding the Admittance of Trans Women at a Women’s College

Although spaces once reserved for cisgender women are becoming increasingly accessible to trans women, few studies have examined cisgender women’s responses to such changes. Informed by social identity perspectives, we examined if heterosexual cisgender women’s reactions to two types of women’s college admissions policies pertaining to trans women depended on their appraisals of intergroup threat—or the degree to which they perceived trans women as a threat to cisgender women. Four-hundred-and-forty heterosexual cisgender women completed a measure of intergroup threat and then read 1 of 2 articles about a women’s college’s admissions policy (accept trans women vs. reject trans women). Following the article, they indicated their support for the policy they read about. Overall, participants were significantly more supportive of the admissions policy when it was framed as being inclusive of trans women. The effect of policy type on policy support was moderated by intergroup threat. Specifically, women who were not particularly threatened by trans women expressed significantly more policy support when the policy was described as being inclusive of trans women, rather than as exclusionary. Alternatively, highly threatened women were significantly more likely to show support when the policy was described in terms of excluding trans women.

Christian and Political Conservatism Predict Opposition to Sexual and Gender Minority Rights through Support for Christian Hegemony

Although significant strides have been made for sexual and gender minority (SGM) rights in the United States, there continues to be opposition to SGM rights from many conservative Christians and political conservatives. In this study, we investigate this opposition by examining support for Christian hegemony (i.e., the idea that Christianity should be the norm and Christians should be in power in the United States) and unawareness of Christian privilege (i.e., unearned advantages for Christians) as religiopolitical variables that help to explain the association between Christian and political conservatism and opposition to a host of SGM rights (same-sex marriage, same-sex adoption, nondiscrimination policies in jobs and housing for SGMs, and bills regarding transgender public bathroom use). Based on structural equation modeling analysis with heterosexual cisgender Christian (n = 688) and Areligious (n = 327) students, we demonstrate that support for Christian hegemony and unawareness of Christian privilege help to explain the association between Christian and political conservatism and opposition to SGM rights. These findings advance our understanding of a new type of religious-based variable focused on religious power and privilege to help understand conservative religious and political opposition to SGM rights. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research also are discussed.