Fulfilling and meaningful relationships are key aspects of social and psychological well-being. (Intimate Partner Violence) IPV among Transgender and Gender Diverse populations remains an underexplored phenomenon, particularly in European and Italian contexts, as do psychological services designed to address it. This study employed a Grounded Theory approach with an ecological perspective to explore romantic relationships and IPV experiences among 50 transgender individuals in Italy. The research followed an iterative process of data collection, analysis, and discussion, leading to the emergence of several macro-categories.
The first, Instrumentalization of Cisnormativity, highlights how perpetrators exploit transphobic social norms to maintain psychological control and devalue their victims. The Impact of Norms on Relational Well-being category shows how these same norms affect the opportunities of transgender individuals to form and sustain healthy relationships, despite their strong need for affection. At the same time, participants described processes of Identity Construction, where they mobilize personal resources to affirm their identity and seek appropriate social support. Participants also expressed a strong demand for specialized psychological support, emphasizing the need for training that incorporates gender identity issues and for increased representation of transgender professionals. This shaped the category Support for Anti-violence and Well-being. The core category, Construction of Identity in Vulnerability, conceptualizes how structural vulnerabilities deeply shape identity development, with romantic relationships becoming key sites where identity is either affirmed or negated.
Overall, this study highlights the need to translate findings into psychological training and services that address the specific psychosocial needs and structural vulnerabilities of transgender individuals.