Impacts of Gender-Affirming Care on Individuals

Having positive gender affirming care can support transgender and non-binary individuals with alleviation of gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria, is the distress that comes from the conflict between an individual's assigned sex at birth and their gender identity (what is gender dysphoria, 2024). Gender affirming care can help alleviate by aligning physical characteristics with their gender identity. This in turn can lead to an overall positive impact on their mental well-being.

Transgender and non-binary individuals are at an increased risk of suicide and self-harm, most likely related to stigma, discrimination and rejection. Research has proven that providing these individuals with gender affirming care can significantly reduce rates of suicide and improve mental health outcomes

The following three cognitive coping strategies were reported by participants: acceptance; adaptive cognitions concerning gender and transition; and rationalization. The most frequently mentioned adaptive strategy was acceptance. This strategy was used to cope with different stressors, such as accepting one’s (transgender) identity, disappointing results, or one’s appearance. A second, frequently mentioned cognitive strategy included having adaptive cognitions concerning one’s gender and transition. This strategy was used to cope with feelings of incongruence and the individual’s body post- gender-affirming treatment(s). Rationalization helped to put negative opinions and comments into context and, as a result, helped to relieve emotional distress. Participants described three types of adaptive coping behavior strategies: seeking help and guidance; taking autonomy during transition; and problem solving. Seeking help and guidance with others was frequently used to cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation and helped to alleviate said feelings. Several participants sought help by actively looking for fellow transgender individuals, seeking out friends or creating an online support system. Additionally, some participants explained that in being autonomous during the transition it enabled the individual to feel more in control and self-assured, especially regarding the transition process. Lastly, participants described, generally, that problem-solving skills helped them to cope with stressors throughout the transitioning process.

The support provided from gender affirming care empowers individuals to develop and practice healthy coping skills and strategies associated with being transgender or non-binary. By providing access to supportive mental and physical health care that affirms an individual's identity they are more likely to develop strong resilience which arms them against stigma and discrimination they may encounter.

Depression and related mood states are extensively studied behavioral health-related parameters in transgender and gender dysphoric individuals undergoing GAHT. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (Table 1) consistently report a reduction in symptoms of anxiety among both middle-aged and elderly (over age 50 years) transgender adults receiving hormone therapy. GAHT also seems to have a positive effect on perceived stress as measured by the self-reported Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). More specifically, transgender individuals undergoing GAHT reported better psychological adjustment and lower subject levels of gender dysphoria, lower psychiatric stress and psychological symptoms, and decreased psychoneurotic distress. Several studies confirm a statistically significant improvement in self-reported quality of life (QoL) in both MTFs and FTMs receiving GAHT. Hormonal intervention is also associated with higher levels of body satisfaction and self-esteem , perhaps with a gender-specific effect. The rest of the studies strongly established that GAHT reduces body discomfort and increases body-gender congruence and body image satisfaction, most likely due to a reduction of the discrepancy in characteristics between natal sex and gender identity . Finally, noticeable decreases in eating disorder psychopathology and symptoms and this did not find a correlation between GAHT and eating attitudes or behaviors. 

Linked below are research articles that support above findings and data:

Impacts of Gender-Affirming Care on Family Systems:

Parent’s can range from critical facilitators or insurmountable barriers for a youth’s transition.

When families are equipped with knowledge and resources they can become their loved ones fiercest advocate across administrative systems,
schools, health systems, and insurance firms

Youth who perceive their parent’s or caretakers to be supportive are significantly more likely to know how to obtain care than those with somewhat or unsupportive parents.

Family connectedness also improves self-esteem, quality of life, and reports of increased condom use during sex

Families identified that healthcare providers played a large role in helping them facilitate conversations, better understand their child’s gender identity, and brainstorming of how they could best support their child

Linked below are research articles for more information about families involvement with gender-affirming care:

It is important to note the role that parents and families play as patients as well during this transition process

From a psychosocial end, the complex family factors demand more family
support/therapy at a community level and biomedically, trans youth require competent
healthcare professionals who have specialist training on gender related care and
healthcare navigation.

Family connectedness and parental support has consistently been associated with improved
outcomes across many of these domains for TNB youth, including lower rates of depression,
suicidal ideation, disordered eating, PTSD, and perceived burden of being transgender.

Family and youths have reported that having a diverse group of individuals to interact with is important as well as inclusion of basic information about non-medical gender-affirming techniques, such as binding, packing, stand-to-pee devices, tucking, electrolysis, voice
therapy, bras, make-up, and more.