Although the research base is growing, relatively few studies have attempted to estimate the health status of transgender and gender diverse communities in the United States.

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A small but growing literature has examined the health of transgender and gender diverse people, and data suggest that transgender and gender diverse people are at substantially elevated risk for various negative health outcomes compared to cisgender people (i.e., individuals whose sex assigned at birth matches their gender identity).

Differences in Mental Health Problems, Substance Use, Violence, and Related Psychosocial Factors in Youth and Young Adults Between Gender Minorities and Gender Conforming Populations

Newcomb, M. E., Hill, R., Buehler, K., Ryan, D. T., Whitton, S. W., & Mustanski, B. (2020). High Burden of Mental Health Problems, Substance Use, Violence, and Related Psychosocial Factors in Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Youth and Young Adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 645–659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01533-9

High Burden of Mental Health Problems, Substance Use, Violence, and Related Psychosocial Factors in Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Youth and Young Adults


- In one study, 39% of transgender respondents endorsed serious psychological distress in the past month, compared to only 5% of the general population, and among youth the rate was even higher (53%). 
- Depression and anxiety have repeatedly been found to be elevated in transgender and gender diverse communities.
- Mental health problems are also common in clinical samples of youth referred for treatment of gender dysphoria, but gender affirming treatment significantly improves health and well-being in gender minority youth.

Mental Health Disparities Among Gender Minorities

- Community-based studies have found elevated rates of discrimination, violence, and 
victimization in transgender and gender diverse people compared to cisgender people.
- In fact, evidence suggests that between 50-90% of TGD people will experience verbal harassment or disrespect related to their gender identity in their lifetime, and at least 25% will experience physical assault or violence due to their perceived gender identity.

Discrimination, Violence, and Victimization Among Gender Minorities

- The persistent marginalization experienced by many gender diverse people is likely in large part responsible for elevated rates of risk behavior engagement and negative health outcomes observed in gender diverse populations.
- Compared to cisgender people, gender diverse individuals are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or other substances to cope with stress.

Substance Use Among Gender Minorities

- Suicidal ideation and attempts are at epidemic levels for the gender minority population. 
- In one study, 82% of gender minority respondents have considered suicide at some point in their life; 48% have seriously considered killing themselves in the past year; and 40% reported a lifetime suicide attempt (nine times the rate in the general population).

Suicidality Among Gender Minorities

- The mean response for perceived family support across all gender diverse individuals in one study indicated that participants “neither agreed nor disagreed” that they received support from their families. 
- Gender diverse youth in one study reported that they received the least amount of support from families, compared to friends and significant others, which aligns with findings from the U.S. Transgender Survey.
- Transgender women reported the lowest rates of both friend and significant 
other support compared to all other groups, and both transgender women and non-binary youth reported significantly lower social support from family and peers compared to cisgender sexual minority male youth.

Social Support Among Gender Minorities

- Gender minority is an umbrella term that refers to a diverse group of individuals with gender behaviors, expressions and identities that depart from the societal norms and expectations associated with their assigned sex at birth.
- Transgender and gender diverse people are a group for whom their sex assigned at birth differs from their gender identity. 
- The transgender and gender diverse population is diverse and includes transgender women (individuals assigned male at birth who identify as women), transgender men (individuals assigned female at birth who identify as men), as well as individuals whose gender identity is non-binary (e.g., gender nonconforming, genderqueer people) or who do not identify with a gender.

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