Disentangling Transgender Workplace Discrimination in Taiwan: A Moderation Analysis of Workplace Discrimination and Mental Health Outcomes from the Taiwan LGBTQ+ Survey

Background:

Workplaces are not only economic environments but also pivotal arenas for sociocultural, political, and systemic change. For individuals who identify as transgender or are part of the LGBTQ+ community, workplace environments profoundly influence identity formation, sense of belonging, and overall well-being. Despite growing discourse on diversity and inclusion, pervasive gender- and sexual orientation-based discrimination remains a major threat to the mental health of marginalized employees, underscoring the pressing need to scrutinize how workplace equity and inclusion are enacted and maintained. Although workplace discrimination has received extensive scholarly attention, most research is U.S.-centric, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of global policy trends and their implications for inclusive workplace practices. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the LGBTQ+ National Survey in Taiwan to examine: (1) whether experiences of discrimination (i.e., workplace discrimination, discrimination feelings, clothing/space discrimination) vary by gender identity; (2) How discrimination affects mental health outcomes (i.e., anxiety; depression); (3) whether transgender identity moderates the relationship between discrimination and mental health.

Methods:

Data were drawn from a 2022 national online survey of LGBTQ+ individuals aged 15 and older with work experience in the past year in Taiwan (N = 10,869). Measures included discrimination feelings (1 item, 5-point Likert), workplace discrimination experience (8 items, 4-point Likert; α = .704), clothing/space discrimination (2 items, 4-point Likert; α = .755), general anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7; α = .936), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; α = .908). Multivariate ordinary least squares regression models were conducted, controlling for gender identity, transgender identity, sexual orientation, age, marriage status, and annual income. Interaction terms tested whether transgender identity intensified the effects of discrimination on mental health outcomes.

Results:

Results showed that compared to cisgender peers, individuals identified as transgender had significantly higher levels of discrimination feelings (β = .16, p < .001), workplace discrimination experience (β = .06, p < .001), clothing/space discrimination (β = .12, p < .001), depression (β = .06, p < .001), and anxiety (β = .05, p < .001). Across all LGBTQ participants, higher discrimination feelings were associated with higher anxiety (β = .21, p < .001) and depression (β = .20, p < .001), and higher workplace discrimination were associated with higher anxiety (β = .09, p < .001) and depression (β = .11, p < .001). Moreover, all interaction models showed that the negative impact of discrimination on anxiety and depression was significantly stronger for transgender individuals.

Discussion:

This study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between workplace discrimination and mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals in Taiwan. Findings highlight the heightened systemic oppression faced by transgender employees and the urgent need for developing inclusive workplace policies and mental health support. Addressing these disparities requires both micro-level interventions and macro-level strategies to mitigate the emotional, mental, and physical toll of discrimination experienced by Taiwanese individuals who identify as transgender.