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Internalized Transphobia, Resilience, and Mental Health: Applying the Psychological Mediation Framework to Italian Transgender Individuals

Author

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  • Cristiano Scandurra

    (Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Bochicchio

    (Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy)

  • Anna Lisa Amodeo

    (Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy)

  • Concetta Esposito

    (Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy)

  • Paolo Valerio

    (Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

  • Nelson Mauro Maldonato

    (Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

  • Dario Bacchini

    (Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy)

  • Roberto Vitelli

    (Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people are a highly-stigmatized population. For this reason, they might internalize society’s normative gender attitudes and develop negative mental health outcomes. As an extension of the minority stress model, the psychological mediation framework sheds light on psychological processes through which anti-transgender discrimination might affect mental health. Within this framework, the current study aimed at assessing in 149 TGNC Italian individuals the role of internalized transphobia as a mediator between anti-transgender discrimination and mental health, considering resilience as the individual-level coping mechanism buffering this relationship. The results suggest that both indicators of internalized transphobia (i.e., shame and alienation) mediate the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and depression, while only alienation mediates the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and anxiety. Furthermore, the results suggest that the indirect relation between anti-transgender discrimination and anxiety through alienation is conditional on low and moderate levels of resilience. Findings have important implications for clinical practice and psycho-social interventions to reduce stigma and stress caused by interpersonal and individual stigma.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristiano Scandurra & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Anna Lisa Amodeo & Concetta Esposito & Paolo Valerio & Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Dario Bacchini & Roberto Vitelli, 2018. "Internalized Transphobia, Resilience, and Mental Health: Applying the Psychological Mediation Framework to Italian Transgender Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:508-:d:136080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meyer, Ilan H. & Schwartz, Sharon & Frost, David M., 2008. "Social patterning of stress and coping: Does disadvantaged social statuses confer more stress and fewer coping resources?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 368-379, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu Lu & Wei Wei, 2023. "Influence of Public Sports Services on Residents’ Mental Health at Communities Level: New Insights from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Cristiano Scandurra & Agostino Carbone & Roberto Baiocco & Selene Mezzalira & Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Vincenzo Bochicchio, 2021. "Gender Identity Milestones, Minority Stress and Mental Health in Three Generational Cohorts of Italian Binary and Nonbinary Transgender People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Annalisa Anzani & Chiara De Panfilis & Cristiano Scandurra & Antonio Prunas, 2020. "Personality Disorders and Personality Profiles in a Sample of Transgender Individuals Requesting Gender-Affirming Treatments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Cristiano Scandurra & Concetta Esposito & Francesco Fantacci & Lorenzo Borrello & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Daniel Giunti & Paolo Antonelli, 2023. "Social Support, Identity Affirmation, and Psychological Well-Being: A Developmental and Intersectional Comparison between Italian Cisgender and Non-Binary People with Bisexual Orientation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    5. Anna Lisa Amodeo & Concetta Esposito & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Paolo Valerio & Roberto Vitelli & Dario Bacchini & Cristiano Scandurra, 2018. "Parenting Desire and Minority Stress in Lesbians and Gay Men: A Mediation Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, October.

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