How transgender, gender diverse (TGD) and cisgender youth cope with daily stress: Insights from an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Abstract

This study investigated gender minority stress (GMS), coping, and mental health in trans, gender diverse (TGD) and cis youth in Germany and Austria and explored immediate effects of coping on stress in daily life. A 14-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study containing three daily assessments of stress and coping was run. 120 participants (79 TGD, 41 cis) aged 14–21 ( M = 18.71, SD = 1.28) completed the baseline and 103 participants the EMA. TGD participants reported higher GMS, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation than cis participants. Music listening predicted lower stress at the next assessment, Behavioral Disengagement predicted lower stress the next day. Other coping effects depended on gender: Denial predicted lower subsequent stress for cis participants. Venting predicted lower subsequent stress for TGD participants. Disentangling between- and within-person effects, these findings highlight the importance of individual coping and the social context for mental health in TGD youth.