Poster #99 - Social Functioning and IQ as Predictors of Perceived and Enacted Stigma in Transgender Adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session 18

Abstract

A significant proportional over-representation of autism spectrum disorder and autistic traits exists in transgender populations (~11% of gender diverse individuals are autistic; Kallitsounaki et al., 2022). Level of social functioning differences (a key characteristic of autism) and level of perceived LGBT-related stigma have been associated with increased suicidality among autistic and non-autistic transgender youth (Strang et al., 2021). However, the relationships between social functioning and stigma among transgender youth have not been examined. Further, though high IQ has been generally associated with poor mental health outcomes (Karpinski et al., 2018), IQ has not previously been investigated as a predictor of transgender youth adjustment.

In the current study, we explored social awareness/functioning as related to perceived and enacted stigma in 66 transgender adolescents aged 13-21 years, evenly recruited across level of autistic traits (see Strang et al., 2021). Social functioning was measured through the social domain of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, with higher scores indicating greater impairment. Perceived and enacted stigma were measured through the LGBT stigma scale. Through this analysis, we aimed to determine whether lower social awareness might also relate to a lower awareness of stigma experienced. Further, we examined IQ as a correlate of social functioning and both stigma variables. In line with the Hyper Brain Hyper Body Theory (Karpinski et al., 2015), which posits high IQ as a risk factor for psychological disorders, we hypothesized that youth with higher IQs would be hyper-attuned to negative feedback surrounding their identity and perceive a greater level of stigma, resulting in a positive correlation between IQ and perceived stigma.

Relationships between IQ and perceived and enacted stigma were examined through Pearson correlations. Relationships between social functioning and perceived and enacted stigma were examined through Spearman correlations. Then, social functioning and IQ were regressed together onto each stigma variable to determine any overlap in effect. As gender identity was not significantly correlated with any variable, it was not included in analysis.

Results indicated that impairment in social awareness/functioning was significantly negatively correlated with enacted stigma, but not perceived stigma: r(63) = .282, p = .023, see Figure 1. As predicted, IQ was significantly positively correlated with perceived stigma, but not enacted stigma: r(63) = -.246, p = .048, see Figure 2. Regression analysis found that when included together as predictors, IQ and social functioning still significantly predicted perceived and enacted stigma respectively. IQ: β = .072, p = .022, Social functioning: β = -.171, p = .024.

Results indicate that social awareness/functioning and IQ differentially relate to the experience of stigma in transgender adolescents. Impairment in social awareness/functioning was negatively associated with enacted stigma and not associated with perceived stigma, suggesting that transgender adolescents with more social functioning difficulties may be less aware of specific experiences of stigma as they happen, but still perceive an overall level of LGBT stigma similar to their less socially impacted peers. Conversely, IQ was positively correlated with perceived stigma but not enacted stigma, suggesting that higher levels of IQ may be associated with greater anxiety and rumination surrounding prejudice from others.

Authors

• Lucy S. McClellan, Children’s National Hospital
  Presenting Author

• Abigail L Fischbach, Children’s National Hospital

• John F. Strang, Children's National Hospital