Author(s):
Rimsha Irshad*, Dr. Samar Fahd
Corresponding Author: rimsha.irshad@gscwu.edu.pk

Abstract:

Minority stress theory proposes that external stigma-related stress can become psychologically consequential through proximal processes such as internalized stigma and negative expectations. This cross-sectional study examined whether parental affection weakens the association between distal and proximal minority stress among 200 khwaja sira (transgender) adults in Pakistan (age range = 18–58 years; M = 26.25, SD = 7.60). Distal and proximal stress were assessed using the Modified Gender Minority Stress Measure, administered in Urdu with reference to the validated Urdu Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Scale; parental affection was assessed with the culturally developed Adverse Family Dynamics of Transgender Scale. Distal and proximal stress were strongly correlated, r = .66, p < .001. In moderated regression, distal stress remained a strong predictor of proximal stress, b = 0.98, SE = 0.08, p < .001. The Distal Stress × Parental Affection interaction was small and negative, b = −0.06, SE = 0.03. The conventional interaction test was marginal, p = .060, whereas a bias-corrected bootstrap 95% CI [−0.13, −0.002] excluded zero. Simple slopes decreased from b = 1.13 at low affection to b = 0.84 at high affection. The evidence is therefore best interpreted as preliminary but directionally consistent with buffering. Findings extend Meyer’s minority stress framework to a Pakistani khwaja sira sample and indicate that family warmth may be relevant to how external stigma is internalized, while not eliminating the need for structural and community-level responses.

Keywords:
minority stress, khwaja sira, transgender, parental affection, family support, internalized transphobia, Pakistan

Acceptance Date:
September 07, 2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Rimsha Irshad, Dr. Samar Fahd. Published by Falcons Journal of Advanced Research (FJAR).

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) .