Document Type

Honors Project

Publication Date

6-5-2024

Abstract

Of the research that exists on transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people’s dating lives, much of it focuses on cisgender people’s negative perceptions of TGNC partners. The little that does focus on TGNC experiences offers limited and contrasting information about TGNC dating preferences for cisgender and TGNC partners. Using an online survey distributed to TGNC adults (N = 246), we explore TGNC people’s attitudes toward both cisgender and TGNC partners as well as what influences these attitudes. Our predictive model is modified from the Gender Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) model (Testa et al., 2015), and we draw upon both social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and social exchange theory (Homans, 1975) to explain the relationships between dating attitudes and the GMSRs factors of distal stress, proximal stress, and resilience. Most participants preferred TGNC partners over cisgender partners (77.24%), and there was mixed support for our predictive model which is discussed. These findings provide foundational knowledge to the field of relationship research regarding TGNC dating experiences.

Level of Honors

magna cum laude

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Linnea Ng

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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