Deakin University
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Unmet Needs, Minority Stress and Mental Health Outcomes Among Transgender Individuals: The Mediating Role of Schema Domains

journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-28, 01:23 authored by G Radford, Jamie ByrneJamie Byrne, Petra StaigerPetra Staiger, Gery KarantzasGery Karantzas
ABSTRACTExposure to gender‐related minority stressors, the negative experiences and beliefs that stem from anti‐trans stigma increases transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people's vulnerability to experiencing poor mental health outcomes. This study examined if the relationships between experiences of minority stress and mental health outcomes were mediated by early maladaptive schemas: mental representations shaping the way people view themselves, others and the world. Drawing from a schema therapy perspective, the study additionally examined if caregivers' failure to meet TGD people's core emotional needs was associated with mental health outcomes and if schemas similarly mediated these relationships. A total of 619 TGD adults completed an online survey about early maladaptive schemas, core emotional needs, gender‐related minority stress and psychological distress and wellbeing. Causal mediation analyses indicated that caregivers who did not meet TGD people's core emotional needs and greater experiences of minority stress were associated with increased distress and lower wellbeing. These relationships were mediated by schema severity, particularly the disconnection and rejection and impaired autonomy domains. These findings provide empirical support for the schema therapy model's assumption that unmet core emotional needs are associated with schema formation. For TGD people, maladaptive beliefs about the self, others and world can form in response to manifestations of anti‐trans stigma within the individual, their interpersonal relationships, community and broader society. Caregivers' failure to meet needs, plus experiences of minority stress throughout the individual's system, leads to greater distress and lower wellbeing; however, clinical interventions targeting schemas may improve outcomes for this at‐risk group.

History

Journal

Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Volume

31

Season

May-June

Article number

e2983

Pagination

1-14

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1063-3995

eISSN

1099-0879

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

3

Publisher

Wiley