Systematic review of the psychometric properties of transphobia scales

Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale-Spanish (TABS-S) Version: Translation and Initial Evaluation of Psychometric Properties

Although the field of transprejudice studies has been growing, the literature suggests a need for quality assessments in languages other than English. To address this need, our study translated the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS) and evaluated its psychometric properties for use with Spanish-speaking populations. We recruited participants (N = 605) from American and Spanish samples. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate fit, confirming the three-factor structure of TABS-Spanish Version (TABS-S). Correlations with existing measures provided evidence for its convergent and discriminant validity. Known-groups validity of the TABS-S was evidenced through confirming previous findings that females show less transgender prejudice than males. Moreover, the internal consistency of the TABS-S scores was high for the total scale (α = .96) and subscales (α = .87-.96). Overall, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that the TABS-S is a valid and reliable scale appropriate for use with Spanish-speaking populations.

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.

When are trans women treated worse than trans men?

Purpose

This paper aims to test penis panic theory, which predicts that trans women will face more discrimination than trans men in some but not all situations.

Design/methodology/approach

Respondents were 262 American college students who were all enrolled in the same undergraduate course. They were presented with a case about coworker resistance to transgender employees' use of the workplace restrooms of their choice. Four versions of a case were randomly distributed as follows: trans woman, restroom with one toilet; trans woman, restroom with three toilets; trans man, restroom with one toilet and trans man, restroom with three toilets.

Findings

The authors observed greater discrimination against trans women compared to trans men when there was one toilet but not when there were three toilets. This supports penis panic theory.

Research limitations/implications

The chief limitation was the use of American college students as respondents. The results may not generalize to practicing managers especially in other countries. Future researchers should develop a scale to measure situational discrimination against trans women. This study should be replicated in other contexts to deepen the understanding of discrimination against trans men and trans women with disabilities, as well as discrimination against nonbinary individuals who identify as neither trans men nor trans women.

Practical implications

Employers need to search for situations in which trans women face greater discrimination than trans men, because they can be resolved in ways that protect the rights of transgender employees no matter how transphobic their coworkers may be. Also, employers need a nuanced approach to combat discrimination that recognizes the unique perspectives of trans men, trans women and other members of the transgender community.

Originality/value

This is the first quantitative study of penis panic theory, and it illuminates the understanding of discrimination against transgender individuals.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Transgender Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (T-KAB) Scale for the Mexican Population

Transphobia is a result of the widespread lack of knowledge among the general population, together with prejudice based on irrational fear and hatred, of those who do not fit the dominant, socially established gender categories. Little is known about transgender-related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among the Mexican population, due to the lack of reliable, valid Spanish-language instruments. This study presents a Spanish translation of the Transgender Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (T-KAB) Scale and examines its psychometric properties for the Mexican population. A cohort of 501 adult subjects, 337 (67.3%) women and 161 (32.1%) men, drawn from the general population, answered the T-KAB in an anonymous online survey. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and internal consistency measure were used to determine whether its dimensions were reliable and valid for use in a Mexican Spanish language and cultural context. A CFA including the three original dimensions proposed and excluding one item from the T-KAB Scale showed appropriate goodness of fit indices (χ²(180) = 389.41; χ²/df = 2.16, RMSEA = 0.048, CI [0.042, 0.055]; CFI = 0.971; TLI = 0.966), with Cronbach's alpha values over 0.85. The psychometric properties exhibited by the Spanish version of the T-KAB support its use for the assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding transgender people in the Mexican cultural context. This instrument offers researchers a brief, reliable, valid, and easy self-report measure to use in further studies in Spanish-speaking populations.

Attitudes Toward Transgender People Among Future Caribbean Doctors

The attitudes of medical students toward transgender people have important implications for the future quality of healthcare for Caribbean transgender patients. This paper examined the attitudes and beliefs of Caribbean medical students toward transgender people, provides psychometric evaluation of a promising instrument, and considers implications for the development of transgender curricula in Caribbean medical education. Medical students (N = 205; 155 women, 43 men, 7 unstated) enrolled at a publicly supported Caribbean university completed the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS; Kanamori et al., 2017). Internal consistency was strong for the total TABS (α = .93) and more variable for the three subscales: interpersonal comfort (IC: α = .91), sex/gender beliefs (SGB: α = .89), and human value (HV: α = .74). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable overall fit for the three-factor model. There were no significant gender differences in overall attitudes toward transgender people as measured by the total TABS score; women reported higher IC scores. Scores were not correlated with age or with year in medical school. Students reported significantly more tolerant attitudes on the HV scale than on IC or SGB scales. Psychometric findings establish measurement invariance and provide support for further use of the TABS in the Caribbean. We discuss implications for medical curriculum development, including use of the TABS as a tool for medical students to reflect on their individual attitudes and beliefs regarding transgender people.

The Adaptation and Validation of the Trans Attitudes and Beliefs Scale to the Spanish Context

This article examines the reliability and validity of the adaptation of the Trans Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS), an instrument capable of detecting transphobic positions, to the Spanish context. A total of 829 psychology students participated in the adaptation procedure. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to study the fit of the new scale to the factor structure of the original scale (interpersonal comfort, gender identity beliefs, and human value). Convergent validity evidence showed significant correlations and predictive levels with different constructs and sociodemographic variables. The internal consistency of the mean scores was adequate at the global level. The study showed that the TABS is a psychometrically sound instrument for the assessment of attitudes toward trans people, particularly in the context of debates over access to rights and the lack of professional training in disciplines such as psychology.

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.

Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS): Validation with a Sample of Self-Identified Christians

Transgender people suffer from a variety of consequences as victims of anti-transgender prejudice. Christians have been frequently identified as holding negative attitudes toward transgender people; however, there is evidence that these attitudes may be changing. Accurate measurement of attitudes is important in understanding currently held beliefs and to assess potential changes over time. This study tested the validity of the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS) for use with the Christian population with a sample of 207 self-identified Christians in the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the factor structure of TABS: χ² (374, N = 207) = 821.46, p < 0.001 (normed χ² = 2.20 < 4); RMSEA = .076 (90%CI = .069; .083), CFI = .926, SRMR = .053. Overall, results suggest that TABS is an appropriate instrument to utilize with the Christian population in the United states.

[Psychometric Properties of the Scale of Negative Attitudes Towards Trans People in Healthcare Providers in Puerto Rico]

The ignorance towards the Trans people can cause healthcare providers to assume negative attitudes towards this population. It is relevant to understand with more amplitude the manifestations of stigma towards the Trans population using instruments whose psychometry is adequate. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of the Scale of Negative Attitudes towards Trans People (EANT, in Spanish) and its factorial structure in healthcare providers in Puerto Rico. As a secondary objective, differences in attitudes towards Trans people between physical healthcare providers and mental healthcare providers were evaluated. The sample consisted of 67 healthcare providers recruited according to their availability. A point-biserial correlation, a Cronbach's alpha analysis, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test were carried out to examine our objectives. The results confirmed that the EANT has a one-dimensional structure. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency index of the scale was .75. No significant differences were found in attitudes towards Trans people between physical healthcare providers and mental healthcare providers. Finally, a discussion of the research findings is presented, as well as its limitations and contributions.

"They Don't Think Like Us": Exploring Attitudes of Non-Transgender Students Toward Transgender People Using Discourse Analysis

Literature concerned with attitudes toward transgender (TG) individuals has been found to be lacking. Predominant research is quantitative and the few qualitative studies either investigated TG experience or attitudes of those with personal experience of TG people.This study investigated this topic using a qualitative approach employing semi-structured interviews exploring beliefs, understanding, and experience of TG people. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis was used to analyze the language used to construct a "transgender" discourse. Participants were cisgender, heterosexual, female participants from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds (n = 6).Prevalent discourses were; "Heteronormativity as a Benchmark," "The Ease of Disclosure'" and "Actualising the Other." Participants consistently drew on discourse that constructed TG as "other." Findings indicate a need to attend to context, as well as content, when exploring attitudes and that covert forms of prejudice need to be addressed and could inform anti-prejudice interventions and the creation of future transphobia measurements.

Gender/sex diversity beliefs: Scale construction, validation, and links to prejudice

Prejudice against or affirmation of gender/sex minorities is often framed in terms of beliefs about the ontology of gender/sex (i.e., what gender/sex is), or gender/sex diversity beliefs. We constructed the Gender/Sex Diversity Beliefs Scale (GSDB) to assess ontological beliefs about the nature of gender/sex, including essentialist and social constructionist beliefs, and validated the GSDB across a series of studies. In Study 1 ( N = 304), we explored the factor structure of the GSDB and found evidence of associations with prejudice against transgender and/or nonbinary people. In Study 2 ( N = 300), we assessed the stability of the factor structure of the GSDB and examined its criterion-related validity, including its relationship to feelings toward multiple gender/sex groups. In Studies 3a ( N = 48) and 3b ( N = 500), we established test–retest reliability. We conclude that gender/sex diversity beliefs are important for understanding contemporary attitudes about gender/sex, including prejudice against gender/sex minorities, and that the GSDB is a reliable and valid way to measure them.

English Validation of a Short Scale Designed to Detect Negative Attitudes towards Trans People (EANT)

(1) Background: Negative attitudes towards sexual minorities are widespread in our society. The Scale of Negative Attitudes towards Transgender people (EANT) has been tested in Spanish-speaking countries in order to assess its applicability as a measure of harmful predispositions towards trans individuals. Understanding these predispositions is important because of transformations in the rights of people in terms of respect for gender diversity. (2) Methods: For the validation of this scale, an online survey was developed and distributed to 362 UK university students aged 18 to 45 years (M = 21.43, SD = 3.42). The sample was randomly divided in half, carrying out the exploratory factor analysis for the first 180 students and performing the confirmatory factor analysis for the remaining 182. (3) Results: The validation of this unifactorial instrument in English was obtained, with a high internal consistency (α = 0.810) that suggests high applicability to measuring this construct, as well as showing expected relationships with typical variables (HATH, TIBS, gender, sexual orientation, religion and education). (4) Conclusions: This study assesses attitudinal tendencies and reveals how sexual prejudice is still implicit in our societies and makes the stigmatisation and discrimination of trans people visible. These findings support the development of strategies to tackle these predispositions.

Queer ethics and fostering positive mindsets toward non-binary gender, genderqueer, and gender ambiguity

Background: Alongside the growth in visibility of gender identities and presentations such as genderqueer, non-binary and gender neutral, there is ridicule and backlash in wider culture, as well as more subtle invisibility and misgendering. While there exists social psychology research about negative and positive attitudes to trans people, this is restricted to those whose gender identity is at odds with their sex assigned at birth, and who identify with binary gender. Social psychology has extended to the more subtle workings of transphobia, but there is little consideration of the distinctiveness of attitudes and responses to those whose genders cannot be attributed in binary ways, and thus how these may be challenged. Methods: In keeping with the methods of social theory, this article brings together a diverse and complementary range of conceptual fields in new ways to diagnose a novel cause and solution to these negative attitudes. Using queer theory, feminist ethics, and empirical studies in post-tolerance sociology and social psychology, it argues that negative social responses to genderqueerness stem not only from overt prejudice in the form of transphobia but from binary genderism, the conviction that there are only two genders. Results and conclusion: This article proposes fostering greater diversity-literacy and empathy for difference as a more effective approach than minority identity-based 'prejudice reduction' approaches. A norm-critical approach to deconstructing gender norms is proposed, thus fostering positive attitudes to genderqueerness. It is therefore demonstrated how best to foster enabling social contexts for genderqueerness, with positive implications for the physical and social health and wellbeing of gender variant people. This approach can be applied in organizations, institutions, and by service providers who interact with genderqueer individuals, in that it can inform a shift to approaching diversity positively in ways that are not restricted to pre-determined and binary identity categories.

Attitudes Toward Transgender Men and Women: Development and Validation of a New Measure

A series of three studies were conducted to generate, develop, and validate the Attitudes toward Transgender Men and Women (ATTMW) scale. In Study 1, 120 American adults responded to an open-ended questionnaire probing various dimensions of their perceptions of transgender individuals and identity. Qualitative thematic analysis generated 200 items based on their responses. In Study 2, 238 American adults completed a questionnaire consisting of the generated items. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed two non-identical 12-item subscales (ATTM and ATTW) of the full 24-item scale. In Study 3, 150 undergraduate students completed a survey containing the ATTMW and a number of validity-testing variables. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) verified the single-factor structures of the ATTM and ATTW subscales, and the convergent, discriminant, predictive, and concurrent validities of the ATTMW were also established. Together, our results demonstrate that the ATTMW is a reliable and valid measure of attitudes toward transgender individuals.