Gender Identity Milestones, Minority Stress and Mental Health in Three Generational Cohorts of Italian Binary and Nonbinary Transgender People

Cristiano Scandurra, Agostino Carbone, Roberto Baiocco, Selene Mezzalira, Nelson Mauro Maldonato and Vincenzo Bochicchio
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Cristiano Scandurra: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Agostino Carbone: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Roberto Baiocco: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Selene Mezzalira: Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy
Nelson Mauro Maldonato: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Vincenzo Bochicchio: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people experience high rates of minority stress and associated risk for negative health outcomes. However, during the last years, significant positive socio-cultural changes have happened, and younger cohorts of TGNC individuals are having diverse experiences compared to older cohorts. By integrating the minority stress theory and the life course perspective, this cross-sectional, web-based study aimed to explore in 197 Italian TGNC people aged 18 to 54 years ( M = 29.82, SD = 9.64) whether the average ages of gender identity milestones (i.e., first insights about being TGNC, self-labeling as a TGNC person, and coming out), minority stress, and mental health vary among three generational cohorts (i.e., Generation Z, Millennials, and Generation X). Compared with older cohorts, younger participants: (a) were more likely to be in the trans-masculine spectrum; (b) self-labeled as TGNC and came out earlier; (c) had more negative expectations and lower levels of disclosure; and (d) had higher levels of mental health problems. No generational differences related to first insights about being TGNC and distal minority stressors were found. Furthermore, compared with binary individuals, participants with a non-binary identity: (a) reported later ages for the gender identity milestones; (b) had higher negative expectations; and (c) had higher levels of mental health problems. Overall, our findings indicated that changes in the social environments have a limited impact on stigmatization processes and mental health of Italian TGNC people.

Keywords: transgender; minority stress; mental health; generations; identity; milestones; binary; nonbinary; coming out; life course (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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