Community as Medicine: A Qualitative Exploration of Meaningful Social Support and Health for Trans and Gender Diverse People in England

The poor mental and physical health of trans and gender diverse young people (TGDYP) is well established and commonly attributed to gender minority stress. While recent research has shown that social support can mitigate these effects, less attention has been paid to the psychological processes through which this occurs. We argue that the Social Identity Approach to Health (SIAH) provides a useful framework for understanding these mechanisms. Using the SIAH, we analysed qualitative data from 20 TGDYP aged 18–26 and eight health, social, and voluntary care professionals. Our analysis shows that although loss of prior social group memberships (e.g., family) is common, new connections with other TGD people formed during the development of an authentic self often outweigh these losses. These relationships foster felt understanding and provide access to key psychological resources, including safety, meaning, and emotional reassurance. While intragroup discrimination can undermine these benefits, we outline ways such challenges may be addressed and consider implications for more holistic models of TGD healthcare.