(PS8-47) Gender Diversity and Gestation: Insights for Supporting Transgender and Nonbinary Adults During Pregnancy

For members of transgender communities, pregnancy can pose unique challenges and obstacles that both align with and differ from those experienced by cisgender women (Charter et al., 2018). Despite these experiences, as well as the growing number of adults who openly identify as gender-diverse, little remains known about the specific mental health needs or role of behavioral health clinicians in supporting this uniquely marginalized population (Brown, 2022; Moseson et al., 2020). The present study utilized a mixed-method survey design to analyze the social and psychological experiences of transgender adults in the U.S. (N=22) with at least one prior experience of pregnancy. Results indicated high rates of mental healthcare utilization in the sample, with half of the participants (50%) reporting they received at least some help from a therapist during their pregnancy. Quantitative findings revealed a moderate positive correlation between perceived levels of social support and perceived levels of wellness during pregnancy, r(20) = 0.47, p < .05. Similarly, levels of perceived social support had a moderately strong negative correlation with reported levels of distress during pregnancy, r(20) = -0.62, p < .05. Qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing phenomenological themes across participants that included connection to self and others; navigating gendered spaces and expectations; and encountering barriers when seeking both medical and behavioral health services. This study supports the importance of provider education, engagement, and advocacy—particularly when working with pregnant transgender and nonbinary adults.

References

 Brown, A. (2022, June 7). About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/06/07/about-5-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-say-their-gender-is-different-from-their-sex-assigned-at-birth/

Charter, R., Ussher, J. M., Perz, J., & Robinson, K. (2018). The transgender parent: Experiences and constructions of pregnancy and parenthood for transgender men in Australia. International Journal of Transgenderism, 19(1), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/15532739.2017.1399496

Moseson, H., Zazanis, N., Goldberg, E., Fix, L., Durden, M., Stoeffler, A., Hastings, J., Cudlitz, L., Lesser-Lee, B., Letcher, L., & Reyes, A. (2020). The imperative for transgender and gender nonbinary inclusion: Beyond women’s health. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 135(5), 1059–1068.