DEI/Health Equity

1

Date of Presentation

5-2-2024 12:00 AM

College

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Poster Abstract

LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults (AYA) continue to face an increased burden of adverse mental health outcomes, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Among this group, transgender and gender nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience a disproportionate burden of these outcomes. Citing the positive impact of gender-affirming care in TNB adults, this literature review aims to examine the role of gender-affirming care in the context of mental health outcomes, specifically in the TNB AYA population.

A review of global literature was conducted by searching four databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo). Eligibility criteria include studies that reported mental health outcomes among persons receiving gender-affirming therapies, studies conducted among TNB AYA of ages 18 and/or younger, and data collected no earlier than 2013. All of the studies were independently screened and synthesized following PRISMA guidelines. Of the 229 initial search items, 18 met the inclusion criteria for this literature review.

Of the 18 included items, 17 cited a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidality associated with gender-affirming hormone replacement (GAH) and gender-affirming surgery (GAS) therapies, of which depression symptoms were quantified using the PHQ-9 scale. Of important note, depressive symptoms, and suicidality varied between the different types of GAS, such as double mastectomy, vaginoplasty, and phalloplasty.

The results of this literature review highlight the therapeutic advantage of gender-affirming care, GAH or GAS, in the context of alleviating adverse mental health outcomes in the TNB AYA population. The findings of this review were limited by the lack of disaggregated data by race, socioeconomic status, and access to gender-affirming therapies. Further research avenues include qualitative research aimed at capturing the lived experiences of TNB AYA receiving gender-affirming care and specific quantitative analysis of the individual gender-affirming surgeries on their respective roles in mediating adverse mental health outcomes.

Keywords

Gender-Affirming Care, LGBTQIA+, Mental Health, Public Health, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Gender Identify, Adolescent, Young Adult, Transgender Persons, Gender-Nonconforming Persons, Physician-Patient Relations

Document Type

Poster

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May 2nd, 12:00 AM

The Positive Impact of Gender Affirming Care on Mental Health Outcomes Among Transgender & Nonbinary LGBTQ+ Adolescents and Young Adults, A Review of Global Literature

LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults (AYA) continue to face an increased burden of adverse mental health outcomes, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Among this group, transgender and gender nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience a disproportionate burden of these outcomes. Citing the positive impact of gender-affirming care in TNB adults, this literature review aims to examine the role of gender-affirming care in the context of mental health outcomes, specifically in the TNB AYA population.

A review of global literature was conducted by searching four databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo). Eligibility criteria include studies that reported mental health outcomes among persons receiving gender-affirming therapies, studies conducted among TNB AYA of ages 18 and/or younger, and data collected no earlier than 2013. All of the studies were independently screened and synthesized following PRISMA guidelines. Of the 229 initial search items, 18 met the inclusion criteria for this literature review.

Of the 18 included items, 17 cited a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidality associated with gender-affirming hormone replacement (GAH) and gender-affirming surgery (GAS) therapies, of which depression symptoms were quantified using the PHQ-9 scale. Of important note, depressive symptoms, and suicidality varied between the different types of GAS, such as double mastectomy, vaginoplasty, and phalloplasty.

The results of this literature review highlight the therapeutic advantage of gender-affirming care, GAH or GAS, in the context of alleviating adverse mental health outcomes in the TNB AYA population. The findings of this review were limited by the lack of disaggregated data by race, socioeconomic status, and access to gender-affirming therapies. Further research avenues include qualitative research aimed at capturing the lived experiences of TNB AYA receiving gender-affirming care and specific quantitative analysis of the individual gender-affirming surgeries on their respective roles in mediating adverse mental health outcomes.

 

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