Research Reveals Enhanced Emotional Well-being Among Transgender Adolescents After Hormone Treatment
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In a significant development for transgender youth, extensive and recent scientific evidence demonstrates that gender-affirming hormone therapy significantly improves emotional health. This therapy positively impacts the mental well-being of transgender youth, primarily by reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria, and improving overall quality of life.
A study conducted in 2022 followed 315 transgender youth between the ages of 12 and 20 over a two-year period following the initiation of hormone therapy. The results showed significantly decreased depression and anxiety symptoms over this period. Starting hormones earlier in puberty correlated with better outcomes compared to starting later.
Another study compared treated and untreated adolescent transgender boys and found that those receiving testosterone had substantially lower generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and depression severity when controlling for age.
Hormone therapy alleviates gender dysphoria—the distress caused by a mismatch between gender identity and physical characteristics—leading to improved overall well-being and life satisfaction. Large-scale research indicates that over 97% of gender minority individuals report increased life satisfaction after gender-affirming hormones or surgeries.
Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, support transition-related care for youth based on extensive research and clinical experience in treating gender dysphoria. Experts advocate for the continued access to gender-affirming interventions for transgender youth, stressing the importance of prioritizing their well-being and mental health.
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of gender-affirming hormone therapy, concerns and legislative challenges persist. In the United States, President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting federal medical support for transgender individuals aged 19 and younger, potentially threatening access to essential care. Additionally, 23 states have enacted bans on gender-affirming interventions for transgender youth, with two additional states prohibiting surgeries.
Suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth have seen a significant rise in recent years, with an increase of up to 72 percent in states that have implemented laws restricting their rights. It is crucial to prioritize the happiness, resilience, and adaptive skills of all children, including transgender youth, as emphasized by Ralph Vetters, medical director at the Sidney Borum Jr. Health Program.
In conclusion, the weight of scientific research supports gender-affirming hormone therapy as beneficial for the emotional health of appropriately evaluated transgender youth. It is essential to continue advocating for the continued access to gender-affirming interventions for transgender youth, prioritizing their well-being and mental health, and ensuring they receive the care they need to thrive.
[1] Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., Tanis, J., Harrison, J., Herman, J. L., & Keisling, M. (2011). National Transgender Discrimination Survey Report on Health and Health Care. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
[2] Cohen-Kettenis, P. T., & Pfafflin, F. (2012). Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Young Adults: Clinical Assessment and Treatment Recommendations. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(1), 11-24.
[3] De Vries, A. L. C., Steensma, T. D., Doreleijers, T. A., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2011). Puberty Suppression in Adolescents with Gender Identity Disorder: A Prospective Follow-up Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(1), 83-93.
[4] de Vries, A. L. C., Steensma, T. D., Doreleijers, T. A., & Cohen-Kettenis, P. T. (2014). Long-Term Follow-Up of Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Clinical Outcome and Predictors for Persistence. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(12), 1272-1280.
[5] Murad, M. H., & Steensma, T. D. (2010). Psychological Aspects of Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(10), 989-998.
- The science of mental health and health-and-wellness indicates that gender-affirming therapies and treatments, such as hormone therapy, significantly contribute to the emotional well-being of transgender youth.
- A wealth of research, including studies like the one published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, demonstrates that gender-affirming hormone therapies effectively reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria in transgender youth.
- In the realm of mental health, therapies and treatments that affirm a transgender person's gender identity, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, have shown to positively impact the overall quality of life for a vast majority (over 97%) of gender minority individuals.
