Gender Affirmation Is Associated with Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Youth Mental Health Improvement

LGBT Health. 2020 Jul;7(5):237-247. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2019.0046. Epub 2020 May 25.

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of each domain of gender affirmation (social, legal, and medical/surgical) on the mental health of transgender and gender nonbinary youth. Methods: Three hundred fifty transgender boys, transgender girls, and gender nonbinary Brazilian youth, from 16 to 24 years old, answered an online survey. Results: The final sample consisted of 350 youth who participated in this study. A total of 149 (42.64%) youth identified as transgender boys, 85 (24.28%) identified as transgender girls, and 116 (33.14%) identified as gender nonbinary youth. The mean age was 18.61 (95% confidence interval 18.34-18.88) years. Having accessed multiple steps of gender affirmation (social, legal, and medical/surgical) was associated with fewer symptoms of depression and less anxiety. Furthermore, engaging in gender affirmation processes helped youth to develop a sense of pride and positivity about their gender identity and a feeling of being socially accepted. Conclusion: Enabling transgender and gender nonbinary youth to access gender affirmation processes more easily should be considered as a strategy to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as to improve gender positivity.

Keywords: gender affirmation; gender confirmation; gender nonbinary; transgender youth; transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Gender Identity*
  • Humans
  • Legislation as Topic
  • Male
  • Psychological Distance
  • Sex Reassignment Procedures
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transgender Persons / psychology*
  • Transgender Persons / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult