Date of Award

6-26-2026

Date Published

July 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Human Development and Family Science

Advisor(s)

Deborah Coolhart

Keywords

Asian American Transgender Individuals;Family Support;Intimate Partner Support;Intimate Relationships

Subject Categories

Counseling Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Transgender Asian Americans navigate gender identity within complex cultural, familial, and relational contexts shaped by collectivist values, racialized stereotypes, and social stigma. Despite increasing research on transgender experiences, limited scholarship has explored how transgender Asian Americans understand and negotiate their identities within family and intimate relationships. Grounded in Minority Stress Model and intersectionality theory, the current study, adopted strength-based perspectives, aims to understand unique experience related to familial and intimate relationships as well as their supports, and how they manage their relational needs as well as resilience process, shaped by the intersection of transgender identity and racial/ethnic identity. Through semi-structured interviews and using an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, the research identified key challenges and analyzed intersectional experiences. The themes included limited understanding around transgender identity formation, family attachment shaped by obligation, risk and shame, surviving by managing visibility and holding onto connect as a source of resilience. These findings highlight the intersectional and relational nature of transgender Asian American experiences and underscore the importance of culturally responsive approaches in research, clinical practice, and family-based interventions. Implications for future research, mental health practice, and training are discussed.

Access

Open Access

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