The Impact of Minority Stress on the Psychological Distress and College Self-Efficacy of Transgender and Gender-Diverse College Students Who Are Neurodivergent

Research has found an overlap between neurodivergence and transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) identity (Goetz & Adams, 2022; Thrower et al., 2020; Warrier et al., 2020). Both TGD and neurodivergent populations are negatively impacted by minority stress (Botha et al., 2022; Valentine & Shipherd, 2018). Yet, little research has considered the minority stress experience of TGD individuals who are neurodivergent. Drawing on minority stress theory, we used hierarchical multiple regression analyses to examine how distal (i.e., gender-related discrimination, gender-related rejection, neurodivergent discrimination) and proximal (i.e., internalized transphobia, stigma consciousness) stressors predicted psychological distress and college self-efficacy among a sample of TGD college students who are neurodivergent (n = 139). The results revealed that, after controlling for covariates, neurodivergent discrimination and neurodivergent stigma consciousness positively predicted psychological distress. Furthermore, after controlling for covariates, internalized transphobia and neurodivergent stigma consciousness negatively predicted college self-efficacy. Recommendations for future research, clinical practice, and social justice advocacy are discussed.