Commitment, Interpersonal Stigma, and Mental Health in Romantic Relationships Between Transgender Women and Cisgender Male Partners

Overview

Journal J Soc Pers Relat

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2019 May 16

PMID 31086428

Citations 10

Authors

Kristi E Gamarel

Jae M Sevelius

Sari L Reisner

Cassandra Sutten Coats

Tooru Nemoto

Don Operario

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The goals of this study were to: (a) examine associations between interpersonal stigma and psychological distress among a sample of transgender women and their cisgender male partners; and (b) identify whether commitment moderates the association between interpersonal stigma and psychological distress. To address these aims, 191 couples consisting of transgender women and their cisgender male partners completed a one-time survey. Actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) were fit to examine stigma, commitment, and their interaction on psychological distress. More frequent experiences of interpersonal stigma were associated with elevated psychological distress for both partners. For transgender women, higher commitment was associated with lower psychological distress. There was a significant interaction effect such that the association between interpersonal stigma and psychological distress was attenuated by greater commitment for transgender women, but not for their cisgender male partners. Findings provide preliminary support for associations between interpersonal stigma and mental health of both partners, and identify commitment as a potential stress buffer for transgender women.

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