Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Growth from adversity in trans and gender diverse people of color
Lee N Taube1, Alexander J Mussap1
1School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Background:
Trans-negativity and gender-based discrimination negatively impact on the wellbeing and mental health in transgender (trans) and gender diverse people (TGD). There is limited research on TGD people thriving under adversity, and no research to date has considered TGD people of color in this context.
Method:
We used the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X) to survey 125 TGD people of color and 625 white TGD adults (18 to 68 years old, M = 26.0, SD = 9.2) about their experiences of growth from adversity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using sub-sampling to compensate for our unequal sample sizes, supported a five-factor structure of the PTGI-X consisting of growth in relating to others, finding new possibilities, personal strength, greater appreciation of life, and spiritual/existential change. Measurement invariance tests confirmed configural, metric, and scalar invariance of this structure across the two TGD subgroups.
Results:
A MANOVA revealed that growth from adversity in TGD participants was generally greater than that reported by people who have recently been exposed to a traumatic event. T-tests revealed that TGD people of color experienced more growth in terms of relating to others and more personal strength than white TGD participants. Subsequent hierarchical regressions revealed that race moderated associations between PTGI-X scores and personal well-being, with TGD people of color reporting more benefits (more well-being) at high levels of growth but also more deficits (less well-being) at low levels of growth than the white TGD subgroup.
Conclusion:
The results support the use of the PTGI-X with TGD populations and across racial TGD subgroups and indicate that growth from adversity is not only prevalent in TGD people but also relevant to positive outcomes, particularly in TGD people of color.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Self-Esteem and Culture

