"An expected part of being trans": The experienced and anticipated stigma of trans adolescents

PurposeTrans adolescents experience and anticipate stigma to the detriment of their mental health; however, trans adolescents have rarely been consulted about their stigma experiences. This study aimed to understand trans adolescents' lived experiences of experienced and anticipated stigma.MethodsResearch materials were reviewed by a trans youth advisory group, and interviews were conducted with trans adolescents (14-18 years). Transcripts were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were constructed: (1) Stigma discredits and undermines trans identity with the subthemes (a) Trans identity is wrong/bad, (b) It's a phase, you're too young to understand, and (c) Transness isn't real (invalidation); (2) Experienced stigma is harmful and ubiquitous with subthemes (a) experienced stigma is harmful, (b) experienced stigma is encountered directly, (c) experienced stigma is encountered directly, and (d) why do they do it? Making sense of stigma; (3) an "expected" part of being trans - anticipated stigma with subthemes (a) it's happened before, it will happen again, (b) the need to be vigilant, and (c) anticipated stigma necessitates visibility management; and (4) Good support can make stigma more manageable with subthemes (a) peer support helps; (b) family support is pivotal, but not always received; and (c) unprompted support mitigates anticipated stigma.ConclusionsThese themes contrast with how experienced and anticipated stigma are operationalized in the literature. As an individual's experienced stigma could lead to widespread and long-lasting anticipated stigma in the trans community, further lived-experience informed research may be key to developing an accurate understanding and measurement of anticipated stigma and improving the mental health of trans adolescents.