Psychological burdens are associated with young male transsexuals in Korea.
The purpose of this study was to compare differences of the psychological burdens between young male transsexuals and age-gender matched non-transsexuals with standardized psychiatric rating scales in Korea. A total of 43 biologically unrelated young male transsexuals and 49 age-gender matched non-transsexuals participated in the study. All subjects completed Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III). The transsexuals showed significantly higher scores on the BDI (P < 0.0001) and SADS (P = 0.002) and lower scores on the SES (P < 0.0001) and Adaptability and Cohesion subscales (P = 0.016 and P < 0.0001, respectively) of the FACES-III than those of the non-transsexuals. The present study found young male transsexuals may be potentially vulnerable to develop psychiatric and familial problems in comparison with non-transsexuals, at least in Korea, although methodological limitations exist. Further well-designed researches should be launched to confirm this preliminary study.
Kim
Tae-Suk
TS
Department of Psychiatry, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cheon
Young-Hoon
YH
Pae
Chi-Un
CU
Kim
Jung-Jin
JJ
Lee
Chang-Uk
CU
Lee
Su-Jung
SJ
Paik
In-Ho
IH
Lee
Chul
C
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology*