Legal gender marker and name change is associated with lower negative emotional response to gender-based mistreatment and improve mental health outcomes among trans populations.
Legal gender marker
Legal name
Mental health
Transgender
Journal
SSM - population health
ISSN: 2352-8273
Titre abrégé: SSM Popul Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101678841
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Aug 2020
Aug 2020
Historique:
received:
24
03
2020
revised:
01
05
2020
accepted:
05
05
2020
entrez:
22
5
2020
pubmed:
22
5
2020
medline:
22
5
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In recent years, Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI) joined a growing list of states allowing residents to easily change the gender marker and name on government-identification (ID) documents. This was an important change for transgender and gender diverse (trans) residents, who face frequent mistreatment and thus for whom legal gender affirmation is critical. Little is known about associations between legal gender affirmation and psychological outcomes. We examined associations between legal gender affirmation (i.e., having changed gender marker/name on neither, one, or both a passport and state ID), upsetting responses to gender-based mistreatment, and mental health outcomes in a sample of trans MA and RI residents. Analyses controlled for gender identity, age, race/ethnicity, education, employment, income, and insurance status. Legal gender affirmation was significantly associated with lower reports of depression, anxiety, somatization, global psychiatric distress, and upsetting responses to gender-based mistreatment. These data provide corroborate recent studies suggesting having pursued legal gender affirmation may be protective. Findings bolster calls to increase structural support for trans individuals, including enactment of state policies easing legal gender affirmation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In recent years, Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI) joined a growing list of states allowing residents to easily change the gender marker and name on government-identification (ID) documents. This was an important change for transgender and gender diverse (trans) residents, who face frequent mistreatment and thus for whom legal gender affirmation is critical. Little is known about associations between legal gender affirmation and psychological outcomes.
METHODS
METHODS
We examined associations between legal gender affirmation (i.e., having changed gender marker/name on neither, one, or both a passport and state ID), upsetting responses to gender-based mistreatment, and mental health outcomes in a sample of trans MA and RI residents. Analyses controlled for gender identity, age, race/ethnicity, education, employment, income, and insurance status.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Legal gender affirmation was significantly associated with lower reports of depression, anxiety, somatization, global psychiatric distress, and upsetting responses to gender-based mistreatment.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
These data provide corroborate recent studies suggesting having pursued legal gender affirmation may be protective. Findings bolster calls to increase structural support for trans individuals, including enactment of state policies easing legal gender affirmation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32435684
doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100595
pii: S2352-8273(20)30232-9
pii: 100595
pmc: PMC7229467
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
100595Subventions
Organisme : NIGMS NIH HHS
ID : P20 GM125507
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2020 The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
All of the authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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