Page No.430-442
Jisha Chakkunny Mand Sundara Raj T
Periyar University, Salem
Healthy and strong interpersonal relationships play a unique role in ensuring the mental
wellbeing of individuals. The purpose of the study was to understand how rejection
experiences from the family affect the self-esteem and mental health of transgender
persons. This study was conducted by personally interviewing 150 transgender individuals
in the state of Kerala from October 2023 to February 2024 by using a snowball sampling
technique. Data related to demographic variables, mental health and self-esteem were
collected with the help of the self-structured interview schedule. Five-point Likert scale
was used for collecting data related to mental health and self-esteem. Chi-square test,
one-way analysis of variance followed by least significant difference test as post hoc
analysis and Karl Pearson’s correlation were employed for testing the hypothesis.
Transgender people did not get recognition from their own families. Those who had
more negative experiences from family members had significantly lower self-esteem.
The analysis shows that there was a positive relationship between family rejection and
self-esteem. At the same time, no relationship was found between demographic factors
and mental well-being. However, regression results indicate that there was a close
relationship between family acceptance of self-esteem levels and the mental health of
transgender individuals. Negative experiences from an important primary group like
family increase mental health challenges. Social inclusion and systematic institutional
changes are necessary to ensure high self-esteem and mental well-being for transgender
people.