I Am What I Am: Congruence and Quality of Life Among Trans Pinoys/Pinays

Quality of life is a broad multidimensional concept containing negative and positive aspects of life. For transgender individuals, significant challenges through a mass of internal and external factors impact their general view of their status in life. Moreover, transgender congruence, which is to feel authentic towards one’s inner and outward expressions of the self and genuine identity rather than that which is socially dictated, is essential for trans individuals. This study’s mixed-method sequential explanatory approach investigated transgender congruence and quality of life among selected transgender individuals of Filipino descent. A sample of 125 Trans Pinoys and Trans Pinays, ages 18 to 64, participated in Phase I, a predictive, cross-sectional design wherein participants completed the Transgender Congruence Scale and the Quality of Life Scale. Phase II, a phenomenological approach, further explained the results of Phase I among 10 trans participants. Quantitative results revealed that transgender congruence does not predict the quality of life among trans-Filipinos. Qualitative findings identified four themes ( Social Support, Realizing Gender Identity, Authenticity & Self-Perception , and Challenges to Transitioning ) as significantly impacting the quality of life among transgender individuals of Filipino descent in our study other than transgender congruence.