Social Epidemiology of Depression and Anxiety by Gender Identity.
This study investigates depression and anxiety in gender minority (i.e., transgender and/or gender nonconforming) compared with nongender minority (cisgender) young adults.



Data were from the Growing Up Today Study, a national cohort of U.S. young adults. A two-step method (maternal-reported natal sex in 1996 cross-classified with participant-reported current gender identity in 2010) was used to identify gender minority and nongender minority respondents (n = 7,831; mean age = 26 years). Differences in past week depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms were examined cross-sectionally by gender identity. Gender minority and nongender minority respondents were compared using age-adjusted logistic regression models.



In gender minorities, the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms meeting clinical cutoffs was 52% and 38%, respectively, compared with nongender minorities (27% and 30% in females and 25% and 14% in males; p < .01).



Gender identity is an understudied social determinant of mental health. Surveillance efforts to monitor mental health disparities should include survey questions to assess gender identity in epidemiologic research. Research and interventions to understand and ameliorate mental health disparities by gender identity are needed.
Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: sari.reisner@childrens.harvard.edu.
Sari L
SL
Reisner
Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Sabra L
SL
Katz-Wise
Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Allegra R
AR
Gordon
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
Heather L
HL
Corliss
Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
S Bryn
SB
Austin
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Anxiety; Depression; Health disparities; Mental health; Transgender