Graduate Studies

 

First Advisor

Katie M. Edwards

Second Advisor

Dena M. Abbott

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Committee Members

Kathryn Holland, Lorey Wheeler, Sarah Ullman

Department

Educational Psychology

Date of this Version

8-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the Graduate College of the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Major: Educational Psychology (Counseling Psychology)

Under the supervision of Professors Katie M. Edwards and Dena M. Abbott

Lincoln, Nebraska, August 2025

Comments

Copyright 2025, Merle E. Huff II. Used by permission

Abstract

Around half of TGD people have experienced sexual assault victimization (Abern et al., 2023; Clements-Nolle et al., 2006; James et al., 2016; Martin et al., 2022; Risser et al., 2005; Stotzer, 2009), which leads to higher rates of depression and PTSD (Grant et al., 2011; Grocott et al., 2023; Fernández-Rouco et al., 2017; Hawkey et al., 2021; Matsuzaka & Koch, 2019; Parr, 2020; Ussher et al., 2020). Disclosure of victimization may be important among TGD survivors. The current study was guided by minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and the gender minority stress and resiliency model (Testa et al., 2015) to explore experiences of disclosure among TGD sexual assault survivors. Participants were 318 TGD people who had experienced past six-month sexual assault victimization drawn from the Strong, Thriving and Resilient Men (STAR-M) Study. Relationships among minority stress, sexual assault disclosure, and mental health were explored. Results indicated that most participants experienced attempted rape by coercion in the past six months (40.3%; n = 125) and 45.6% (n = 145) disclosed in the last six months. Of those who disclosed, most participants disclosed to a friend (84.8%; N = 145) and an informal source (47.6%) rather than a formal source (4.2%). Most participants did not disclose because they wanted to deal with it alone, forget, not worry others, or had other concerns to focus on; were ashamed; feared being blamed; felt it was not serious enough or others would not think it was serious enough or would not understand; or felt nothing would be done. Disclosure of one’s identities was related to sexual assault disclosure, but no other analyses were statistically significant. However, 57.4% (N = 317) and 67.4% (N = 316) of participants were considered clinically depressed or met criteria for a provisional PTSD diagnosis, respectively. Implications based on findings, especially reasons for non-disclosure, include exploring contextual factors around sexual assault and disclosure (e.g. intersectionality) and unique barriers to disclosure among TGD survivors, advocacy against anti-TGD legislation and rhetoric, and changes to existing programs and services (e.g. crisis and sexual assault hotlines) and clinical spaces to be more welcoming and TGD-affirming.

Advisors: Katie M. Edwards and Dena M. Abbott

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