In a recent survey conducted by KFF in partnership with The Washington Post, concerning the mental health of transgender adults in society, some concerning trends have emerged.
The survey, which delves into the experiences of transgender individuals in relation to anxiety, depression, and loneliness, uncovered that more than four in ten transgender adults reported experiencing anxiety (56%), depression (48%), or loneliness (44%), either frequently or always in the past 12 months.
Surprised? Survey: More Than 4 in 10 Transgender Adults Experience Depression, Anxiety https://t.co/Hl7TO2kTg4
— deborah green (@NewaiGreen) October 3, 2023
This data indicates that many transgender individuals continue to face emotional struggles even after transitioning to their preferred gender.
Comparatively, when looking at cisgender adults surveyed in the past year, the contrast becomes evident. Transgender adults reported a significantly higher incidence of these emotional challenges than their cisgender counterparts.
Only 31% of cisgender adults reported feeling anxious, 21% felt depressed, and 21% felt lonely during the same period. Additionally, transgender adults were less likely to report feeling happy (40%) or hopeful (29%) consistently over the past year, in contrast to 59% and 50% of cisgender adults, respectively.
Age played a role in the survey results, with younger transgender adults reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to their older counterparts. This pattern aligns with the general trend between younger and older adults and is not exclusive to the transgender community.
The survey did not provide specific numbers or percentages for transgender adults with supportive families. Nevertheless, it suggested that those with supportive families experienced a higher level of satisfaction, highlighting the crucial role of family support in the well-being of transgender individuals.
The survey’s most alarming findings revolve around serious mental health issues. Approximately 34% of LGBT adults reported experiencing such issues, with a startling 43% of transgender adults revealing that they had contemplated suicide in the past year.
Furthermore, the survey showed that transgender adults are six times more likely than cisgender adults to engage in self-harm and more than twice as likely to experience eating disorders or have suicidal thoughts within the same timeframe.
Moreover, the survey’s data on the romantic lives of transgender individuals raises questions about social acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community, as transgender men living as women reported high rates of rejection from both lesbians and men. Conversely, women who identify as men were more accepted within the community.
