Cross-Sectional Associations Between Medical Affirmation, Social Connectedness, and Psychological Well-Being in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults

Abstract

Many transgender and gender-diverse adults (i.e., those whose gender identities or expressions differ from their sex presumed at birth) affirm their identities medically and, in addition, rely on their social networks for identity-related support. While both medical affirmation and social connectedness are linked to well-being, their combined effects and differences across gender identities remain underexplored. The present article aimed to examine how medical affirmation and social connectedness are associated with psychological well-being among transgender men, transgender women, and nonbinary adults. Findings from a study involving 342 participants from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, conducted in July 2020, revealed that medical affirmation was associated with better well-being. General social support, however, was a stronger predictor of well-being than medical affirmation. Community connectedness with trans people did not uniquely predict well-being. These findings hint at the importance of a holistic approach to gender-affirming care-one that integrates both medical affirmation and social connectedness to effectively foster trans adults' well-being. Show more