Citation

Boase ER, McLaren S. Psychol. Sex. Orientat. Gend. Divers. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/sgd0000634

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) adults are disproportionately at risk of suicide. Discrimination is a key suicide risk correlate. Emerging evidence suggests transgender people may experience discrimination and suicide differently to gender-diverse people. No research has investigated whether self-compassion is protective against suicide within the TGD population. The present study examined whether self-compassion weakened and self-coldness strengthened the relationship between discrimination and suicide risk and whether these effects differed between gender groups (transgender or gender-diverse). An international sample of transgender (n = 240) and gender-diverse (n = 145) adults completed the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Transgender Discrimination Scale, and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale.

RESULTS indicated significant gender differences in the way that self-compassion and self-coldness moderated the discrimination-suicide risk relationship, with patterns indicating self-compassion, was a protective correlate for gender-diverse participants and a risk correlate for transgender participants. Self-coldness significantly strengthened the discrimination-suicide risk relationship for gender-diverse participants. Interventions that aim to reduce self-coldness may help reduce suicide risk for gender-diverse people. To understand how self-compassion may operate as a risk correlate for transgender adults facing discrimination, it is recommended future research investigate proximal factors that may explain the relationship between discrimination and suicide uniquely for this population through moderated-mediation models. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en

Keywords

Discrimination; Gender Nonconforming; Risk Factors; Self-Compassion; Sex Discrimination; Suicidality; Suicide; Transgender