Transgender teens receiving hormone treatment see improvements to their mental health

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-01-19 09:00

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Transgender teenagers who receive gender-affirming hormone treatments are more comfortable with their appearance and experience fewer depression and anxiety symptoms, according to a US study. The researchers recruited 315 transgender and nonbinary people aged 12-20 receiving testosterone or estradiol, and asked them to report how they felt their appearance matched their gender identity, their overall life satisfaction and answer questions about their mental health over a period of two years. The researchers say depression and anxiety levels dropped over the study period and appearance congruence and life satisfaction improved. In an accompanying editorial, Dutch researchers say there is more we need to know about other factors influencing the mental health of transgender youth, such as the type of mental health care they are receiving and their level of social support.