Association Between Gender Confirmation Treatments and Perceived Gender Congruence, Body Image Satisfaction, and Mental Health in a Cohort of Transgender Individuals
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Transgender individuals sometimes seek gender confirmation treatments (GCT), including hormone therapy (HT) and/or surgical change of the chest and genitalia ("top" and "bottom" gender confirmation surgeries). These treatments may ameliorate distress resulting from the incongruence between one's physical appearance and gender identity. AIM: The aim was to examine the degree to which individuals' body-gender congruence, body image satisfaction, depression, and anxiety differed by GCT groups in cohorts of transmasculine (TM) and transfeminine (TF) individuals. METHODS: The Study of Transition, Outcomes, and Gender is a cohort study of transgender individuals recruited from 3 health plans located in Georgia, Northern California, and Southern California; cohort members were recruited to complete a survey between 2015-2017. Participants were asked about: history of GCT; body-gender congruence; body image satisfaction; depression; and anxiety. Participants were categorized as having received: (1) no GCT to date; (2) HT only; (3) top surgery; (4) partial bottom surgery; and (5) definitive bottom surgery. OUTCOMES: Outcomes of interest included body-gender congruence, body image satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Of the 2,136 individuals invited to participate, 697 subjects (33%) completed the survey, including 347 TM and 350 TF individuals. The proportion of participants with low body-gender congruence scores was significantly higher in the "no treatment" group (prevalence ratio [PR] = 3.96, 95% CI 2.72-5.75) compared to the definitive bottom surgery group. The PR for depression comparing participants who reported no treatment relative to those who had definitive surgery was 1.94 (95% CI 1.42-2.66); the corresponding PR for anxiety was 4.33 (95% CI 1.83-10.54). CLINICAL TRANSLATION: Withholding or delaying GCT until depression or anxiety have been treated may not be the optimal treatment course given the benefits of reduced levels of distress after undergoing these interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Strengths include the well-defined sampling frame, which allowed correcting for non-response, a sample with approximately equal numbers of TF and TM participants, and the ability to combine data on HT and gender confirmation surgeries. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the fact that participants may not be representative of the transgender population in the United States. Body-gender congruence and body image satisfaction were higher, and depression and anxiety were lower among individuals who had more extensive GCT compared to those who received less treatment or no treatment at all. Owen-Smith AA, Gerth J, Sineath RC, et al. Association Between Gender Confirmation Treatments and Perceived Gender Congruence, Body Image Satisfaction and Mental Health in a Cohort Of Transgender Individuals. J Sex Med 2018;15:591-600.
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Physical activity and balanced diet help individuals appreciate their bodies for capabilities rather than appearance, potentially alleviating feelings of inadequacy brought on by unrealistic societal standards.
“These activities help individuals appreciate their bodies for their capabilities rather than just their appearance, potentially alleviating feelings of inadequacy brought on by unrealistic societal standards.”
From Body Perceptions and Psychological Well-Being: A Review of the Impact of Social Media and Physical Measurements on Self-Esteem and Mental Health with a Focus on Body Image Satisfaction and Its Relationship with Cultural and Gender Factors (2024) · cites this paper as [116]
The Discussion reports greater body image satisfaction among transgender participants who received more extensive gender confirmation treatment. A search for physical activity, balanced diet, appreciation of bodily capabilities, and unrealistic societal standards found no passage connecting those ideas to the claimed benefit. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRegular physical activity and a balanced diet improve physical health and enhance self-perception and overall psychological well-being.
“Engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a balanced diet not only improves physical health but also enhances self-perception and overall psychological well-being [116].”
From Body Perceptions and Psychological Well-Being: A Review of the Impact of Social Media and Physical Measurements on Self-Esteem and Mental Health with a Focus on Body Image Satisfaction and Its Relationship with Cultural and Gender Factors (2024) · cites this paper as [116]
The Discussion addresses body image and psychological distress in relation to gender confirmation treatments, not regular physical activity or a balanced diet. Searches for exercise, physical activity, diet, and nutrition found no passage in our copy assessing the claimed benefits. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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- Authors
- Owen-Smith, A. A., Gerth, J., Sineath, R. C., Barzilay, J., Becerra-Culqui, T. A., Getahun, D., Giammattei, S., Hunkeler, E., Lash, T. L., Millman, A., Nash, R., Quinn, V. P., Robinson, B., Roblin, D., Sanchez, T., Silverberg, M. J., Tangpricha, V., Valentine, C., Winter, S., Woodyatt, C., Song, Y., & Goodman, M.
- Affiliations
- Department of Health Management and Policy , Atlanta, GA ,
- Emory University (US)
- Kaiser Permanente (US)
- Alliant University (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Journal of Sexual Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2018-02-17
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 591-600
- ISSN
- 1743-6095 (ISSN-L)
- 1743-6109
- PMC
- PMC5882508
- OpenAlex
- W2790875702
- Cited by
- 208
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 32.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- The Journal of Sexual Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R21HD076387)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Keywords
- transgender people, body satisfaction, depression, anxiety, hormone therapy, top surgery, transmasculine, transfeminine, gender identity, mental health, treatment timing, gender-affirming care, health insurance claims data, gender dysphoria, gender-affirming surgery
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Body Image, California, Depressive Disorder, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cohort Studies, Prevalence, Young Adult, Gender-Affirming Surgery, Transgender Persons
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