Cisnormativity impacts core emotional needs of transgender and gender diverse people

Despite thousands of years of diverse gender expression, many trans and non-binary people still grapple with the impact of cisnormativity: the belief that cisgender people (people whose gender matches the body they were born with) are 'normal' or 'right', while others are not. The pressure to conform to this expectation can significantly affect mental health: societal messaging around gender being determined by biology, for example, may affect someone's ability to feel safe and happy as themselves. At a time when trans people are also being asked to "accept perceived reduced rights", this is more important than ever.

This topic is explored in a new study by a team at Deakin University, which examines the emotional lives of transgender and gender diverse people, and how they are supported or disrupted by different kinds of messaging.

The study uses as its basis five core emotional needs outlined in the schema therapy model that, left unmet, can cause psychological distress. Participants, 101 transgender and gender diverse adults aged 18 to 71, responded to an online survey probing how societal messages about gender had affected them: their ability to enjoy secure attachment, their sense of autonomy and identity, their ability to express themselves emotionally, their sense of spontaneity and play, and their need for self-control. After submitting these responses to a template thematic analysis, four key themes emerged.

Firstly, participants described how anti-trans societal messages can disrupt how secure they feel in their relationships: rejection by family and friends, hiding their identity to avoid harm, and sometimes feeling humiliated by others. On the other hand, affirming relationships were identified as an important protective force for mental health, suggesting secure attachments can be a vital lifeline for trans people.

The second theme examines how trans people manage perceptions of their identities, often at the expense of true emotional expression. Many felt pressure to act as 'ideal' representatives of the community, suppressing their own needs to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes. This often led to high self-control and perfectionism, with some participants avoiding expressing themselves so as not to add to wider bias ("I feel ashamed because I fit in the category of 'childhood trauma' as if that devalues every trans person"). Others expressed shame when they felt they had failed to meet these expectations: "I can barely express myself, as I am treated like a novelty."

Next, participants explored how social messaging could leave them feeling empowered or disempowered. Some found strength in resisting anti-trans attitudes, gaining a sense of resilience and independence, while others internalised doubt about their identities ("sometimes negative attitudes left me wondering if I am right about who I am."). Institutional gatekeeping by medical or legal systems further undermined autonomy, with participants feeling a pressure to 'prove' their identity to external agencies.

The final theme explores how cisnormativity restricts authentic self-expression, pushing trans people to self-censor or express themselves in narrowly defined ways — and while this can provide some safety through secure attachment, it can also frustrate needs for spontaneity or play. Trans women and femmes felt particularly compelled to repress emotions like anger ("I feel like I have to be polite and passive to mistreatment to avoid scrutiny and not be perceived as a man"), while others described pressure to "flawlessly pass". In this case, portraying their gender in a precise way became less of a genuine self-expression for these participants, but a way to avoid invalidation.

Across the board, participants reflected on how anti-trans narratives led to rejection, shame, and pressure, frustrating these five core wellbeing needs. This occurred at multiple levels, from systemic to interpersonal, highlighting how everyday experiences are shaped by broader forces like media, education, and healthcare.

The researchers propose several changes to better support trans people's emotional wellbeing: promoting diverse media representation, pushing for changes in healthcare and law to support autonomy and safety, providing affirming resources to families to meet attachment needs, and supporting peer connections to enhance feelings of acceptance. These suggestions all underline the team's main conclusion: that targeting manifestations of cisnormativity across society is essential to ensure transgender and gender diverse people have their emotional needs fully met, and allow them to thrive as their authentic selves.

Read the paper in full:
Radford, G., Jamie, Staiger, P. K., & Karantzas, G. C. (2025). Cisnormativity and the frustration of core emotional needs among transgender and gender diverse individuals. Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12596

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