Presentation Information
[O-10-03]Anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among transgender and gender diverse individual with gender-affirming care in South Korea by age group: multicenter cross-sectional study
*Sun Young Lee1,2, Ssirai Kim2, Eunsil Lee2,3 (1.Seoul National University Hospital(Korea), 2.Korean Initiative for Transgender Health(Korea), 3.Soonchunhyang University Hospital(Korea))
Keywords:
Transgender and gender-diverse persons,Depression,Suicide
Backgrounds
Little is known about mental health of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals with gender-affirming care (GAC) in South Korea. This study aimed to investigate anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation of TGD individuals by age group.
Methods
A multicenter prospective survey study was conducted from January to October 2024 at eight medical institutions providing GAC in Korea. The study population was TGD individuals with GAC. Age groups were categorized into 4 groups based on age distribution (18~24, 25~29, 30~39, and over 40). The study outcomes were depression evaluated by patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anxiety assessed by generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and life-long and past 12-month self-harm and suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate associated factors for study outcome.
Result
Total 844 TGD individual responded including 442 transwomen (52.4%), 258 transmen (30.6%), 100 nonbinary assigned males at birth (AMAB) (11.8%), and 44 nonbinary assigned females at birth (AFAB) (4.6%). The median (interquartile range) age was 28 (24-33) years old. Half were in their 20s (18~24 29.0%, 25~29 30.5%, 30~39 31.8%, and over 40 8.8%). A total of 25.7% reported moderate to severe depression and 17.3% experienced moderate to severe anxiety. Respondents experienced self-harm (51.9%/13.0%), suicidal ideation (75.4%/30.8%), plan (48.0%/16.1%), and attempt (32.6%/5.2%) in the life-long period and past 12 months, and all decreased with older age group (all p-value<0.01). The younger age group, transwoman and nonbinary AMAB identity was associated with higher risk of depression, anxiety, and past 12-month suicidal ideation in logistic regression model.
Conclusion
Korean TGD individuals experienced various mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts. This was particularly serious in young TGD individuals in their 20s. Mental health support is needed for young TGD individuals in South Korea.
Little is known about mental health of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals with gender-affirming care (GAC) in South Korea. This study aimed to investigate anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation of TGD individuals by age group.
Methods
A multicenter prospective survey study was conducted from January to October 2024 at eight medical institutions providing GAC in Korea. The study population was TGD individuals with GAC. Age groups were categorized into 4 groups based on age distribution (18~24, 25~29, 30~39, and over 40). The study outcomes were depression evaluated by patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anxiety assessed by generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and life-long and past 12-month self-harm and suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate associated factors for study outcome.
Result
Total 844 TGD individual responded including 442 transwomen (52.4%), 258 transmen (30.6%), 100 nonbinary assigned males at birth (AMAB) (11.8%), and 44 nonbinary assigned females at birth (AFAB) (4.6%). The median (interquartile range) age was 28 (24-33) years old. Half were in their 20s (18~24 29.0%, 25~29 30.5%, 30~39 31.8%, and over 40 8.8%). A total of 25.7% reported moderate to severe depression and 17.3% experienced moderate to severe anxiety. Respondents experienced self-harm (51.9%/13.0%), suicidal ideation (75.4%/30.8%), plan (48.0%/16.1%), and attempt (32.6%/5.2%) in the life-long period and past 12 months, and all decreased with older age group (all p-value<0.01). The younger age group, transwoman and nonbinary AMAB identity was associated with higher risk of depression, anxiety, and past 12-month suicidal ideation in logistic regression model.
Conclusion
Korean TGD individuals experienced various mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts. This was particularly serious in young TGD individuals in their 20s. Mental health support is needed for young TGD individuals in South Korea.