Gender Identity Change Efforts Are Associated with Depression, Panic Disorder, and Suicide Attempts in South Korean Transgender Adults.
Transgend Health
; 8(3): 273-281, 2023 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37342483
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Gender identity change efforts (GICEs), sometimes referred to as "conversion therapy," are considered pseudoscientific and unethical practices that are not supported by the existing scientific literature. However, a substantial portion of transgender people face such practices during their lives. We assessed lifetime exposure to GICEs and its associations with mental health indicators among transgender adults in South Korea.Methods:
We analyzed a nationwide cross-sectional survey of 566 Korean transgender adults conducted in October 2020. Lifetime exposure to GICEs was classified as follows "never had GICE-related experiences," "received a referral, but did not undergo GICEs," and "undergone GICEs." We assessed mental health indicators, including past-week depressive symptoms; medical diagnosis or treatment of depression and panic disorder; and past 12-month suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm.Results:
Of the total participants, 12.2% had "received a referral, but did not undergo GICEs," and 11.5% had "undergone GICEs." Compared with those who had "never had GICE-related experiences," participants who had "undergone GICEs" showed significantly higher prevalence of depression (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.11-1.61), panic disorder (aPR=2.52, 95% CI=1.75-3.64), and suicide attempts (aPR=1.73, 95% CI=1.10-2.72). However, we did not find significant associations between having "received a referral, but did not undergo GICEs" and mental health indicators.Conclusion:
Given our findings suggest that lifetime exposure to GICEs may harm transgender adults' mental health, legal restrictions should be imposed to ban GICEs in South Korea.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Transgend Health
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Corea del Sur