Frequency of transphobia among medical students in comparison with non-medical university students

Abstract

Identity refers to the collection of attitudes, characteristics, and traits that distinguish an individual from others and is a consistent feeling that a person has about who they are over time. Gender identity, a critical aspect of every individual's identity, reflects the self-image one holds as either male or female. The societal constructs of gender often shape how individuals think, feel, and behave. Transsexual individuals are those whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth and often seek to transition socially and/or medically to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. This study focuses on understanding transphobia, defined as negative attitudes and beliefs towards transgender individuals, and how it is manifested among medical and non-medical students.

Method: This descriptive-comparative study involved a sample of 418 students (224 medical students and 194 non-medical students) from various universities. Participants completed the Genderism and Transphobia Scale (GTS), a validated instrument designed to measure attitudes towards transgender individuals. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, employing independent t-tests for comparative analysis of the results between the two groups. Results: Findings indicated a statistically significant difference in transphobia levels between medical and non-medical students (P<0.001). Medical students exhibited a lower mean score on the Gender Transphobia subscale compared to their non-medical counterparts. Additionally, results showed that male students demonstrated higher levels of transphobia than female students across both groups. The average scores for medical students were significantly lower across all measured domains of transphobia compared to non-medical students.