Testing A Conditional Process Model of Gender Minority Stress and Resilience, Depressive Symptoms, and Dyadic Coping Among Gender Minorities

Abstract

Many studies show that depression is pervasive among gender minority populations with strong links between minority-related stress and the development of depressive symptoms. Using frameworks of minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and gender minority stress and resilience (Hendricks & Testa, 2012; Testa et al., 2015), this investigation aimed to better understand a process by which minority stress (prejudice, stigma, discrimination) may relate to depressive symptoms through gender non-affirmation and internalized transphobia. Another goal of this work was to integrate gender minority stress and resilience models with relationship science by examining dyadic coping as a potential moderator. Using a sample of 110 individuals who self-identified as a gender minority, the present study found an indirect link between minority stress and depressive symptoms; greater experiences of gender non-affirmation were associated with more internalization of transphobia and cissexism, which is associated with more depressive symptoms. While dyadic coping was not found to significantly moderate the connection between gender non-affirmation and depressive symptoms or internalized transphobia and depressive symptoms, dyadic coping did significantly moderate the connection between gender non-affirmation and internalized transphobia such that higher levels of dyadic coping exacerbated this connection. Implications for policy and health care practice to better meet gender minority population health needs are discussed.