Association Between Perceived Social Support and Mental Health Among Transsexuals

Sociological studies focuses on the vital role of social support in meeting critical and stressful situations. Social support is essential to mental health، adaptation ability، and behaviors. There are direct or interactional relationships between physical and mental health with demographic and social variables like poverty، unemployment، age and gender. People who suffer from sexual identity disorder are vulnerable to different problems، for instance we can mention mental and psychological disorders that relate to their situations. In this situation social support play a vital role in preventing mental illness and mental health improvements among this vulnerable group. Present study aimed to discuss the influence of social support on the mental health among transsexuals. The statistical population of this study is consisted of people who suffer from sexual identity disorder (transsexuals). The sample was used in this study included 97 patients from the Navab Safavi Crisis Intervention Center from August 2010 until September 2011. They were volunteer and selected through available sampling. We used Goldberg general health questionnaire، perceived multi-dimensional support method and also questions related to social and individual characteristics to collected the data. Data analysis was accomplished by Pearson correlation coefficient test، K-square consonance and analysis of one-way variance through using SPSS-15 statistical software. Study results showed that there is a significant relationship between mental health and perceived social support among participants. Peoples with higher scores in mental health were in an inappropriate situation and they had lack of social support. The association between these two variables was contrary and the correlation coefficient was also negative (r=-532، p<0. 01). The study findings were supported with some theories in human sciences such as Structural Strain Theory and Stress Theory that they emphasize the impact of environment on the individual’s mental health. In addition، they recognize that communication with others and social groups and as well as having a protector family can lead to live happily and healthy. The participants who had higher perceived social support from their families and friends were less likely to meet mental disorders and they had a better mental health.