HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript
J Adolesc Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 August 01. Published in final edited form as: J Adolesc Health. 2016 August ; 59(2): 203–208. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.04.006.
Social epidemiology of depression and anxiety by gender identity Sari L. Reisner, ScD1,2,3, Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD4, Allegra R. Gordon, ScD, MPH4, Heather L. Corliss, PhD5, and S. Bryn Austin, ScD4,6,7 1Division
of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Author Manuscript
2Department 3The
of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
4Division
of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 5Division
of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
6Department
of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 7Channing
Author Manuscript
Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Abstract Purpose—This study investigates depression and anxiety in gender minority (i.e., transgender and/or gender nonconforming) compared to non-gender minority (cisgender) young adults.
Author Manuscript
Methods—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 participantreported current gender identity in 2010) was used to identify gender minority and non-gender minority respondents (n=7831; mean age=26 years). Differences in past-week depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms were examined cross-sectionally by gender identity. Gender minority and non-gender minority respondents were compared using age-adjusted logistic regression models.
Corresponding Author: Sari L. Reisner, ScD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Associate Scientific Researcher, Boston Children's Hospital, [email protected]. The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose. Implications and Contribution Statement: Gender identity is an understudied social determinant of mental health. This study contributes epidemiologic data showing a higher prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms in gender minorities (i.e., transgender and/or gender nonconforming) relative to non-gender minorities in an U.S. cohort of young adults. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Reisner et al.
Page 2
Author Manuscript
Results—In gender minorities, the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms meeting clinical cutoffs was 52% and 38%, respectively compared to non-gender minorities (27% and 30% in females and 25% and 14% in males) (p
J Adolesc Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 August 01. Published in final edited form as: J Adolesc Health. 2016 August ; 59(2): 203–208. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.04.006.
Social epidemiology of depression and anxiety by gender identity Sari L. Reisner, ScD1,2,3, Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD4, Allegra R. Gordon, ScD, MPH4, Heather L. Corliss, PhD5, and S. Bryn Austin, ScD4,6,7 1Division
of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Author Manuscript
2Department 3The
of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
4Division
of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 5Division
of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
6Department
of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 7Channing
Author Manuscript
Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Abstract Purpose—This study investigates depression and anxiety in gender minority (i.e., transgender and/or gender nonconforming) compared to non-gender minority (cisgender) young adults.
Author Manuscript
Methods—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 participantreported current gender identity in 2010) was used to identify gender minority and non-gender minority respondents (n=7831; mean age=26 years). Differences in past-week depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms were examined cross-sectionally by gender identity. Gender minority and non-gender minority respondents were compared using age-adjusted logistic regression models.
Corresponding Author: Sari L. Reisner, ScD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Associate Scientific Researcher, Boston Children's Hospital, [email protected]. The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose. Implications and Contribution Statement: Gender identity is an understudied social determinant of mental health. This study contributes epidemiologic data showing a higher prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms in gender minorities (i.e., transgender and/or gender nonconforming) relative to non-gender minorities in an U.S. cohort of young adults. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Reisner et al.
Page 2
Author Manuscript
Results—In gender minorities, the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms meeting clinical cutoffs was 52% and 38%, respectively compared to non-gender minorities (27% and 30% in females and 25% and 14% in males) (p
