Anna Martha Vaitses Fontanari1, Felipe Vilanova2, Maiko Abel Schneider3, Itala Chinazzo1, Bianca Machado Soll1, Karine Schwarz4, Maria Inês Rodrigues Lobato1, Angelo Brandelli Costa2. 1. Postgraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 2. Postgraduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. 4. Speech Therapy Department, Centro Universitário Metodista IPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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.
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.
Authors: Jae M Sevelius; Deepalika Chakravarty; Samantha E Dilworth; Greg Rebchook; Torsten B Neilands Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-19 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Jae M Sevelius; Deepalika Chakravarty; Samantha E Dilworth; Greg Rebchook; Torsten B Neilands Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-23 Impact factor: 3.390