What is Minority Stress, and How Does it Affect Transgender and Gender-diverse Youth?

Giselle Levin, PsyD

July 1, 2024

Question

What is minority stress, and how does it affect transgender and gender-diverse youth?

Answer

Minority stress is a concept that explains the higher rates of mental and physical health issues seen in LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people. This theory, developed by Meyer, identifies two main types of stressors: distal and proximal. Distal stressors are external pressures like discrimination, family or peer rejection, and non-affirmation (e.g., misgendering). These stressors have direct links to severe mental health outcomes, including heightened rates of suicide among transgender youth. Proximal stressors are internal, such as internalized transphobia and negative expectations about the future, which lead to low self-esteem and a reluctance to disclose one's gender identity. These stressors collectively contribute to the high mental health disparities seen in transgender and gender-diverse youth.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Supporting Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth, presented by Giselle Levin, PsyD.

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