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Mental Health Inequities among Transgender People in Aotearoa New Zealand: Findings from the Counting Ourselves Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Kyle K.H. Tan

    (School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand)

  • Sonja J. Ellis

    (School of Education, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand)

  • Johanna M. Schmidt

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand)

  • Jack L. Byrne

    (School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
    TransAction, Auckland 1025, New Zealand)

  • Jaimie F. Veale

    (School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand)

Abstract

There has been little international research looking at differences in mental health across different age groups. This study examines mental health inequities between transgender people and the Aotearoa/New Zealand general population from youth to older adulthood. The 2018 Counting Ourselves survey ( N = 1178) assessed participants’ mental health using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and diagnoses of depression and anxiety disorders, questions that were the same as those used in the New Zealand Health Survey. Our results showed significant mean score differences for transgender people on K10, and these differences were almost two standard deviations higher than the general population (Cohen’s d = 1.87). The effect size differences, however, decreased from youth to older adults. Regression analyses indicated trans women were less likely to report psychological distress than trans men and non-binary participants. There was an interaction effect for age and gender, with lower psychological distress scores found for younger trans women but higher scores for older trans women. The stark mental health inequities faced by transgender people, especially youth, demonstrate an urgent need to improve the mental health and wellbeing of this population by implementing inclusive institutional practices to protect them from gender minority stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle K.H. Tan & Sonja J. Ellis & Johanna M. Schmidt & Jack L. Byrne & Jaimie F. Veale, 2020. "Mental Health Inequities among Transgender People in Aotearoa New Zealand: Findings from the Counting Ourselves Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2862-:d:348461
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bariola, E. & Lyons, A. & Leonard, W. & Pitts, M. & Badcock, P. & Couch, M., 2015. "Demographic and psychosocial factors associated with psychological distress and resilience among transgender individuals," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(10), pages 2108-2116.
    2. Bockting, W.O. & Miner, M.H. & Swinburne Romine, R.E. & Hamilton, A. & Coleman, E., 2013. "Stigma, mental health, and resilience in an online sample of the US transgender population," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(5), pages 943-951.
    3. Pega, F. & Veale, J.F., 2015. "The case for the world health organization's commission on social determinants of health to address gender identity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(3), pages 58-62.
    4. Marta Evelia Aparicio-García & Eva María Díaz-Ramiro & Susana Rubio-Valdehita & María Inmaculada López-Núñez & Isidro García-Nieto, 2018. "Health and Well-Being of Cisgender, Transgender and Non-Binary Young People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, September.
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    2. Jeffery Adams & Eric Julian Manalastas & Rommel Coquilla & Jed Montayre & Stephen Neville, 2022. "Exploring Understandings of Sexuality Among “Gay†Migrant Filipinos Living in New Zealand," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    3. Everhart, Avery R. & Ferguson, Laura & Wilson, John P., 2022. "Construction and validation of a spatial database of providers of transgender hormone therapy in the US," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).

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