Living Through Adversity: Understanding Discrimination, Resilience, and Psychological Well-being Among Filipino Transgender Youth

Transgender youth continue to face systemic discrimination and social marginalization. These barriers can hinder their development and negatively affect their psychological well-being. However, little is known about the specific ways Filipino transgender youth experience discrimination and develop resilience. To address this gap, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of Filipino transgender youth, focusing on the discrimination they face and the resilience factors that contribute to their psychological well-being. This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach, utilizing online in-depth interviews with nine transgender youth aged 17 to 23 from Metro Manila, comprising five female-to-male and four male-to-female individuals, who were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using a modified Colaizzi’s (1978) descriptive phenomenological method. Findings revealed that discrimination often occurred in academic settings and manifested through microaggressions and social exclusion. These experiences contributed to feelings of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, among others, yet the impact of discrimination was mitigated by strong coping strategies, activism and emotional regulation, and social support from peers, family members, and affirming communities. A strong sense of identity pride also helped participants maintain self-worth, protecting them against gender-based discrimination. The study highlights the need for inclusive policies and supportive environments in educational institutions. Future research could explore how these resilience factors evolve, particularly concerning long-term access to gender-affirming environments.