Factors Influencing Suicide Risk in Transgender and Gender-Non Conforming Individuals
Abstract
Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals have high rates of suicidality. TGNC individuals also experience high rates of minority stressors (victimization and discrimination) and heightened levels of body dissatisfaction and dissociation. Previous cross-sectional research has found that minority stressors are associated with suicidality among TGNC individuals and that body dissatisfaction and dissociation are connected to suicidality among non-TGNC individuals. Therefore, this present study explored whether body dissatisfaction and dissociation facilitate the transition from minority stressors to suicidality among TGNC individuals. This research also investigated if minority stressors predict suicidality among TGNC individuals. Participants (n = 180), recruited online, completed measures related to minority stress, body dissatisfaction, body dissociation, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It was hypothesized that body dissatisfaction and dissociation at baseline would moderate the relationship between baseline minority stressors and baseline suicidality. Additionally, it was hypothesized that minority stressors at baseline would predict suicidality at one-month follow-up. Results indicated that medium and high levels, but not low levels, of body dissatisfaction and dissociation moderated the relationship between victimization and suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, medium and high levels, but not low levels, of body dissociation moderated the relationship between discrimination and suicidal behaviors. Body dissociation and dissatisfaction did not moderate the relationship between minority stressors and suicidal thoughts. Finally, minority stressors at baseline predicted suicidal behaviors, but not suicidal thoughts, at follow-up. Overall, the current study demonstrates that minority stressors and body dissatisfaction and dissociation are important factors to consider in the risk for suicidal behaviors of TGNC individuals.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Rabasco, Ana, "Factors Influencing Suicide Risk in Transgender and Gender-Non Conforming Individuals" (2019). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI22583829.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI22583829
