Investigating Correlations between Cultural Values and Caregiver Support As Perceived By Latine Transgender Young Adults

Background & Purpose: The study examines the extent to which cultural factors specific to Latine families explain transgender young adults’ perceived level of caregiver support.

Latine people make up 19 percent of the U.S. population and are projected to be 27 percent of the U.S. population by 2050 (U.S. Census, 2018; Pew Research Center, 2020). The Williams Institute (2022) estimates that nearly 100,000 Latine youth ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. identify as transgender.
The percent of people across races/ethnicities who identify as transgender has grown by each subsequent generation (Jones, 2021). As a result, the study population is predicted to steadily increase. Previous qualitative studies identified three significant cultural factors (below) related to LGBTQ feelings of family and community acceptance.

This study aims to investigate these relationships, focusing on Latine transgender young adults' experiences of parental support to inform development of interventions that increase experienced parental support and improve mental health outcomes.

Methods: Adults ages 18-25 who identify as Latine and transgender were recruited to complete an online survey (N=79); existing scales were used to measure the study’s variables of interest: religiosity (Behavioral Religiosity Scale), familismo (Attitudinal Familism Scale), and gender norm traditionalism (Marianismo & Machismo/Caballerismo scales) and experienced gender support (PAGES-Y) and perception of parental response under conditions of distress (PRAD). Semi- structured interviews (N=16) expand understanding of the relationship variables have to young adults’ experienced support from caregivers.

Results:While none of the independent variables were significant, Acculturation, which was included as a control variable, significantly predicted a 0.16 of a point increase in PAGES-Y scores, signifying increased perceived parental support in relation to adolescent gender expansiveness with every 1-point increase in acculturation (B=0.16, p=0.01). Marianismo and Caballerismo scores both significantly predicted changes in PRAD scores, with every 1-point increase in Marianismo predicting a 0.03 of a point increase in negative parental attitudes (B=0.03, p=0.01) and every 1-point increase is Caballerismo predicting a 0.02 of a point decrease in negative parental attitudes (B= -0.02, p=0.02).

Implications: Identifying distinct cultural factors that significantly influence perceived parental support should be considered in development of interventions aimed at increasing experienced support and improving mental health outcomes in Latine transgender young adults.