Pathways to Euphoria: Deconstructing Gender-Expansive Adults Conceptualizations of Wellbeing

Abstract

Historically, research has portrayed transgender, gender-diverse, and non-binary (TGDN) individuals through narratives of distress and dysfunction. Through the adoption of a positive psychology lens, the present study sought to refute this dominant deficit model, instead exploring the processes that foster wellbeing among TGDN adults residing in Western Australia. Central to this study was the collaboration between researchers and the TGDN community. Participants comprised twelve adults who self-identified as members of Western Australia’s TGDN community, recruited through TGDN community spaces. In line with the exploratory qualitative design employed in this study, participants took part in face-to-face, semi-structured interviews; with transcripts analysed using thematic analysis. Gender euphoria emerged as the central concept underlying participants’ conceptualizations of wellbeing. Three subsequent themes were identified: (1) achieving gender congruence, (2) collectively healing, and (3) finding gender pride. Each theme illustrates a means through which gender euphoria, and thus wellbeing, was elicited among participants. These findings may inform the development of individualized strategies that clinicians, and institutions serving TGDN individuals, can implement to improve the wellbeing of their clients. Further, this study highlights the need to avoid reconstructing pathologising narratives, and instead adopt participatory, and positive psychology approaches to research with the TGDN community.