Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis

Tom Lewis; David Matthew Doyle; Manuela Barreto; Debby Jackson

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114143

Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis

Soc Sci Med. 2021 Aug:282:114143. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114143. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Authors

Tom Lewis¹, David Matthew Doyle², Manuela Barreto², Debby Jackson³

Affiliations

¹ University of Exeter, Department of Psychology, Washington Singer Laboratories, Perry Road, EX4 4QG, UK. Electronic address: tl463@exeter.ac.uk.
² University of Exeter, Department of Psychology, Washington Singer Laboratories, Perry Road, EX4 4QG, UK.
³ Devon Partnership NHS Trust, UK.

PMID: 34174577
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114143

Abstract

Rationale: Social relationships are important in bolstering health and well-being for everyone in the general population. For transgender people, strong supportive social relationships may be paramount to their overall health and well-being due to their marginalised status in society.

Objective: This review aimed to investigate what is currently known about the social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners (e.g., family members, romantic partners).

Methods: Thirty-nine qualitative papers were extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed that related to social relationships of transgender people. These papers were analysed via a qualitative meta-synthesis.

Results: Forty-nine second-order themes were identified, initially organised into relational partner clusters (e.g., family, friends, work colleagues) for specific phenomena, then these were synthesized into five overarching conceptual themes: (1) Development of relationships through transition and beyond, (2) Coping strategies of transgender people and their relational partners, (3) Reciprocal support in social relationships, (4) Stigma enacted and ameliorated interpersonally, and (5) Influence of stigma on social health and well-being.

Discussion and conclusions: These overarching themes show the potential characteristics that assist in the health-buffering role of social relationships for transgender people and their relational partners. Of particular note, stigma was reported as a common negative experience by transgender people and their relational partners, and open communicative social relationships had positive effects on self-conceptualisations of identity, which were inferred to protect against the damaging effects of stigma. We discuss the various implications and applications of this meta-synthesis to future research and clinical settings as well as how it can inform healthcare policy to support transgender people.

Keywords: Health; Minority stress; Social relationships; Social support; Stigma; Trans; Transgender; Well-being.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Communication
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Social Stigma
Transgender Persons*