4 - (SYM 64) Associations Between Social Acceptance and Body Esteem Among a Nationwide U.S Sample of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents

Background: Promoting positive body image among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents could significantly improve their well-being. TGD adolescents report more body dissatisfaction than their peers, partly due to minority stressors (e.g., stigmatization). The current study explores whether indicators of social acceptance could buffer against correlates of stigmatization, thereby enhancing youth’s body image.

Methods: TGD adolescents (N = 1470; M_age = 15.95, 53.67% transmasculine; 68.37% White) reported their appearance, weight, and body parts satisfaction (Cash, 1990; Mendelson et al., 2001), feelings of gender dysphoria (Cohen-Kettenis & van Goozen, 1997), and expectations of social rejection (Mohr & Kendra, 2011). Participants also indicated who they were “out” to, whether their school had an LGBTQ club, their number of close friends, their self-esteem, and their concern over being misgendered. All analyses controlled for age, gender, ethnicity, perceived transition progress (from 0-100%), and gender identity congruence.

Results: Multiple linear regressions revealed that having more close friends, higher self-esteem, lower misgendering concerns, and lower rejection expectations were each associated with higher levels of appearance, weight, and body parts satisfaction (ps < .001). Adolescents with access to an LGBTQ club reported higher appearance satisfaction (p = .04). More welcoming club atmospheres were further associated with appearance satisfaction (p = .008). Being “out” to at least one person (vs. no one) was not associated with any outcome (ps > .05). However, those who were “out” to a parent or caregiver reported higher appearance satisfaction than youth whose parents did not know (p = .04). Being “out” to a parent moderated associations between appearance satisfaction and dysphoria (p = .02), misgendering concerns (p < .001), and anticipated rejection (p = .02), such that adolescents exhibited higher appearance satisfaction at all but the highest levels (+1SD) of these stressors when a parent knew their gender identity.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that TGD adolescents’ body image is influenced by their interpersonal environment. Indicators of social acceptance, such as the ability to be “out” to one’s parents, access to a gender-inclusive club, greater expectations of social acceptance, and fewer concerns over misgendering were each associated with higher appearance satisfaction. To promote positive body image, these results underscore the need for inclusive and supportive environments.