| Summary: | Relationships in which one partner is transgender are disproportionately challenging compared to
other LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). While research
has yet to examine how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy, it is
theorized that this process may be critical for relationship health during gender transition. This
study explored how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy during their
transition process. Symbolic interactionism was used to examine the questions: (1) How do
perceptions of couple emotional intimacy influence how each partner assigns meaning to their
experiences with transitioning? and (2) How do partners communicate about their emotional
experiences during their transition process? Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze
individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) using group-level analysis. The process model that emerged from the data indicated that transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions internally and within their relationships as
they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. Tensions created pathways for
partners to emotionally withdraw from or engage in communication about their experiences.
Communication processes ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship in
transition. When couples engaged in communication, they created shared meaning about their
experiences and strengthened emotional intimacy. Data revealed that these processes of building
and sustaining emotional intimacy were interactional and iterative. Recommendations for
research and clinical work with these couples are provided, in light of these findings. === Doctor of Philosophy === Relationships in which one partner is transgender are particularly challenging compared to other
LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). Research has yet to
examine how transgender (a person whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex
at birth) and cisgender (a person whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth)
intimate partners experience emotional intimacy. However, emotional intimacy may be critical
for relationship health during transition (a person's process of developing a gender expression
that matches their gender identity). This study explored how transgender-cisgender couples
experience emotional intimacy during their transition process. I explored how each partner emotionally experienced their relationship during transition and how partners communicated about their emotional experiences during their transition process. I analyzed individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) (Charmaz, 2006). The findings revealed that both transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions within themselves and within their relationships as they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. While
experiencing tensions, partners chose to either engage or withdraw from communication.
Communication ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship as they
transitioned. Efforts to communicate brought couples closer and strengthened emotional
intimacy. Recommendations for research and clinical work with these couples are provided.
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