Institutional Support, and Social Acceptance as Predictors of Educational and Sport Participation among Transgender Individuals in Pakistan: The Mediating Role of Psychological Safety

Abstract

The study will explore how Institutional Support (IS) and Social Acceptance (SA) can influence Participation in Education and Sports (PES) among transgender people in Pakistan using Psychological Safety (PS) as a mediation variable. The research paper is based on Social Support Theory and Psychological Safety Model and follows a quantitative approach based on a designed survey step. The participants of 309 transgender involved in the data were actively involved in both the educational and sporting activities in Pakistan. The sample was to be used to reflect a cross-section of transgender people enrolled in formal education and organized sports in the different cities. The main analytical method used to test the hypotheses proposed with regards to the relationships between Institutional Support, Social Acceptance, Psychological Safety, and Participation in Education and Sports was Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which was performed with the use of SmartPLS 4.0. The empirical findings show that Institutional Support has a strong positive impact on both Psychological Safety and Education and Sports participation. In addition, Psychological Safety has mediated the linkage between Institutional Support and participation outcomes which relate to the fact that the vigor of participation depends on the psychological environment that institutions develop in their institutions. In contrast, the Social Acceptance has a weak direct impact on participation, and this implies that endorsement by the society alone cannot be effective to engender participation unless the mechanisms of institutional support are reinforced. The results suggest creating inclusive policies, creating psychologically safe institutional environments, and promoting awareness campaigns aimed at enhancing the presence of transgender individuals in academic and athletic environments.