Gender-Affirming Hormones Tied to Improved Psychosocial Functioning in Teens

FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Use of gender-affirming hormones (GAH) improves appearance congruence and psychosocial functioning among transgender and nonbinary youth, according to a study published in the Jan. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Diane Chen, Ph.D., from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and colleagues assessed the longitudinal course of psychosocial functioning during the two years after GAH initiation among 315 U.S. transgender and nonbinary youth (ages 12 to 20 years).
The researchers found that during the two years of follow-up, appearance congruence, positive affect, and life satisfaction increased, while depression and anxiety symptoms decreased. There were concurrent associations observed between increases in appearance congruence and increases in positive affect and life satisfaction, as well as decreases in depression and anxiety symptoms. Suicidal ideation (11 participants; 3.5 percent) was the most common adverse event, while two participants died by suicide.
"We are now following this cohort to see whether gains in functioning are sustained over a longer follow-up period, and -- given substantial variability in outcomes even after controlling for a number of factors -- we hope to discover additional predictors of change to identify youth for whom GAH alone is not adequate to address mental health challenges," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Related Posts
Fitter in 1820: Today’s Americans Spend Much Less Time Being Active
FRIDAY, Oct. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Modern Americans get much less...
Mobile Devices for Calming May Harm Young Children’s Emotion Regulation
FRIDAY, Dec. 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Use of mobile devices for calming...
AHA News: Examinando las opciones saludables de arroz
MARTES, 29 de marzo de 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- Lo crean o no,...
U.S. Smoking Rate Hits All-Time Low
THURSDAY, April 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer U.S. adults are smoking...