A new study finds that although transgender and nonbinary people share many similarities, the populations can face different health, psychological, and social challenges. Nonbinary individuals are twice as likely as transgender people to experience physical or sexual assault and nearly three times as likely to face conflict with a romantic partner.
In addition, nonbinary people are more likely than transgender people to rate their health as fair or poor and to report functional limitations due to physical, mental, or emotional problems.
Using data from the nationally representative Generations and TransPop surveys, researchers from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Miami, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Columbia University, examined differences in stressors and health outcomes between binary transgender and nonbinary people.
“Although nonbinary people may or may not identify as transgender, they face distinct stressors and systemic challenges compared to binary transgender people,” said study author Ilan Meyer, Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute. “Given the pervasive societal assumptions of a strictly male or female gender identity, nonbinary people may experience more frequent invalidation both in interpersonal interactions and when navigating public accommodations, such as sex-segregated restrooms.”
The study also identifies areas of similarity between the two groups, with some notable exceptions. Psychological distress and life satisfaction are similar for both transgender and nonbinary people; however, nonbinary individuals report a poorer outlook for the future. While both groups have similar levels of support from family members and significant others, nonbinary individuals report lower levels of support from friends.
Reflecting differences in family planning, more transgender adults (41%) reported an unmet desire to have children than nonbinary adults (18%).
“These findings signal a need for targeted interventions that address the specific needs of nonbinary individuals while recognizing the shared experiences across gender minority populations,” said lead author Gina Scorpiniti, clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Miami. “More research is needed on the impact of stressors common among nonbinary people and how those stressors affect both nonbinary and transgender populations.”
The study, “Health and psychosocial differences between binary transgender and nonbinary adults: A national probability sample analysis,” was published in Psychiatry Research.