Prevalence and Determinants of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Transgender People: Results of a Survey

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of probable depression and probable anxiety and to investigate the determinants of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms among transgender people. Methods: In this “Transgender Survey” (n = 104) we included transgender people who had joined self-help groups to obtain and share information about the gender-affirming surgeries performed at the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Data collection took place between April and October 2022. To measure probable depression, the patient health questionnaire-9 was used. The generalized anxiety disorder-7 was used to quantify probable anxiety. Results: The prevalence of probable depression was 33.3% and it was 29.6% for probable anxiety. Multiple linear regressions showed that both more depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with younger age (β = −0.16, p < 0.01; β = −0.14, p < 0.01), being unemployed (e.g., full-time employed compared to unemployment: β = −3.05, p < 0.05; β = −2.69, p < 0.05), worse self-rated health (β = −3.31, p < 0.001; β = −1.88, p < 0.05), and having at least one chronic disease (β = 3.71, p < 0.01; β = 2.61, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Remarkably high prevalence rates were identified among transgender people. Furthermore, risk factors of poor mental health (e.g., unemployment or younger age) were identified—which can help to address transgender people at risk for poor mental health.