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Early Human Development Jul 2024The left-cradling bias (i.e., the motor asymmetry for cradling infants on the left side) has often been associated to the right-hemispheric social-emotional...
The left-cradling bias (i.e., the motor asymmetry for cradling infants on the left side) has often been associated to the right-hemispheric social-emotional specialization, and it has often been reported to be stronger in females than in males. In this study we explored the effects of sexual orientation and gender identity on this lateral bias by means of a web-based investigation in a sample of adults (485 biological females and 196 biological males) recruited through LGBTQIA+ networks and general university forums. We exploited a cradling imagery task to assess participants' cradling-side preference, and standardized questionnaires to assess participants' homosexuality (Klein Sexual Orientation Grid) and gender nonconformity (Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents). Results confirmed the expected left-cradling bias across all sexual orientation groups except for heterosexual males. Importantly, higher homosexuality scores were associated with higher proportions of left cradling in males. These results suggest that sexual orientation can influence cradling preference in males, indicating a complex interaction between biological and psychological factors in the laterality of social-emotional processing. Finally, the left-cradling bias seems to confirm its role as a behavioral proxy of social-emotional functional lateralization in humans.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Functional Laterality; Gender Identity; Sexual Behavior; Emotions; Adolescent; Young Adult
PubMed: 38781713
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106049 -
JAMA Network Open May 2024Concerns about the mental health of youths going through gender identity transitions have received increased attention. There is a need for empirical evidence to...
IMPORTANCE
Concerns about the mental health of youths going through gender identity transitions have received increased attention. There is a need for empirical evidence to understand how transitions in self-reported gender identity are associated with mental health.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether and how often youths changed self-reported gender identities in a longitudinal sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths, and whether trajectories of gender identity were associated with depressive symptoms.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study used data from 4 waves (every 9 months) of a longitudinal community-based study collected in 2 large cities in the US (1 in the Northeast and 1 in the Southwest) between November 2011 and June 2015. Eligible participants included youths who self-identified as SGM from community-based agencies and college groups for SGM youths. Data analysis occurred from September 2022 to June 2023.
EXPOSURE
Gender identity trajectories and gender identity variability.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y) assessed depressive symptoms. Gender identity variability was measured as the number of times participants' gender identity changed. Hierarchical linear models investigated gender identity trajectories and whether gender identity variability was associated with depressive symptoms over time.
RESULTS
Among the 366 SGM youths included in the study (mean [SD] age, 18.61 [1.71] years; 181 [49.4%] assigned male at birth and 185 [50.6%] assigned female at birth), 4 gender identity trajectory groups were identified: (1) cisgender across all waves (274 participants ), (2) transgender or gender diverse (TGD) across all waves (32 participants), (3) initially cisgender but TGD by wave 4 (ie, cisgender to TGD [28 participants]), and (4) initially TGD but cisgender by wave 4 (ie, TGD to cisgender [32 participants]). One in 5 youths (18.3%) reported a different gender identity over a period of approximately 3.5 years; 28 youths varied gender identity more than twice. The cisgender to TGD group reported higher levels of depression compared with the cisgender group at baseline (Β = 4.66; SE = 2.10; P = .03), but there was no statistical difference once exposure to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender violence was taken into account (Β = 3.31; SE = 2.36; P = .16). Gender identity variability was not associated with within-person change in depressive symptoms (Β = 0.23; SE = 0.74; P = .75) or the level of depressive symptoms (Β = 2.43; SE = 2.51; P = .33).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that gender identity can evolve among SGM youths across time and that changes in gender identity are not associated with changes in depressive symptoms. Further longitudinal work should explore gender identity variability and adolescent and adult health.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adolescent; Gender Identity; Depression; Longitudinal Studies; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Young Adult; United States; Self Report; Cohort Studies
PubMed: 38776085
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11322 -
Lipids in Health and Disease May 2024There is insufficient research on how gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) affects body fat modifications in transwomen from China. It is unclear whether hormone...
BACKGROUND
There is insufficient research on how gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) affects body fat modifications in transwomen from China. It is unclear whether hormone therapy affects the prevalence of obesity and blood lipid levels within this population. The current research aimed to assess how GAHT and treatment duration had an impact on the change in and redistribution of body fat in Chinese transwomen.
METHODS
This study included 40 transwomen who had not received GAHT and 59 who had. Body fat, blood lipid, and blood glucose levels were measured. GAHT is mainly a pharmacologic (estrogen and anti-androgen) treatment. The study also stratified participants based on the duration of GAHT to assess its impact on body fat distribution. The duration of GAHT was within one year, one to two years, two to three years, or more than three years.
RESULTS
After receiving GAHT, total body fat increased by 19.65%, and the percentage of body fat increased by 17.63%. The arm, corrected leg, and leg regions showed significant increases in fat content (+ 24.02%, + 50.69%, and + 41.47%, respectively) and percentage (+ 25.19%, + 34.90%, and + 30.39%, respectively). The total visceral fat content decreased (-37.49%). Based on the diagnostic standards for a body mass index ≥ 28 or total body fat percentage ≥ 25% or 30%, the chance of developing obesity did not change significantly. Blood glucose levels significantly increased (+ 12.31%). Total cholesterol levels (-10.45%) decreased significantly. Fat changes in those who received GAHT for one to two years were significantly different from those who did not receive GAHT.
CONCLUSION
After receiving GAHT, total body fat and regional fat increased in Chinese transwomen, and the body fat distribution changed from masculine to feminine, especially during the first two years. However, neither the increase in total body fat percentage nor the decrease in visceral fat content didn't bring about significant changes in the incidence of obesity, nor did triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Adipose Tissue; Asian People; Blood Glucose; Body Fat Distribution; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; China; East Asian People; Estrogens; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Obesity; Retrospective Studies; Sex Reassignment Procedures; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism
PubMed: 38760846
DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02131-y -
Indian Journal of Medical Ethics 2024Transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) are often denied or delayed by mental health professionals (MHPs). Studies on the gatekeeping of GAS...
BACKGROUND
Transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) are often denied or delayed by mental health professionals (MHPs). Studies on the gatekeeping of GAS have been mainly conducted in the Global North and primarily focus on the perspectives of health professionals. This case study from India incorporates health professional, community, advocate, and activist perspectives to contribute new evidence about MHP gatekeeping in GAS. The study aims to examine the role of power and gender in MHP gatekeeping of GAS in India.
METHODS
A qualitative multi-method case study including thematic analyses of key informant interviews (n = 9) and policy analysis using the policy triangle framework.
RESULTS
Health professionals and transgender persons participate in the construction, performance, and reproduction of gender indicating the persistence of gender normativity in India which enables gatekeeping by MHPs. However, evidence suggests some signs of a change from binormativity to a culturally intelligible and historically familiar "trinormativity".
CONCLUSION
To understand MHP gatekeeping, there is a need to contextualise this example of biopower within the larger social construction of gender within which MHPs operate. A transition from binormativity to "trinormativity" enables MHP gatekeeping of transgender persons seeking GAS. This risks creating new forms of gender-related oppression, such as new hierarchies and class differences between the gender binary and the "third gender".
Topics: Humans; India; Transgender Persons; Male; Female; Gender Identity; Qualitative Research; Sex Reassignment Surgery; Gatekeeping; Power, Psychological; Health Personnel; Adult; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Transsexualism
PubMed: 38755768
DOI: 10.20529/IJME.2024.011 -
PloS One 2024The present contribution provides ratings for a database of gender stereotypically congruent, stereotypically incongruent, semantically correct, and semantically...
The present contribution provides ratings for a database of gender stereotypically congruent, stereotypically incongruent, semantically correct, and semantically incorrect sentences in Polish and English. A total of 942 volunteers rated 480 sentences (120 per condition) in each language in terms of their meaningfulness, probability of use, and stereotypicality. The stimuli were highly controlled for their length and critical words, which were shared across the conditions. The results of the ratings revealed that stereotypically incongruent sentences were consciously evaluated as both less meaningful and probable to use relative to sentences that adhere to stereotype-driven expectations regarding males and females, indicating that stereotype violations communicated through language exert influence on language perception. Furthermore, the results yielded a stronger internalization of gender stereotypes among sex-typed individuals, thus pointing to the crucial role of gender schema in the sensitivity to gender stereotypical attributes. The ratings reported in the present article aim to broaden researchers' stimulus choices and allow for consistency across different laboratories and research projects on gender stereotype processing. The adaptation of this database to other languages or cultures could also enable a cross-cultural comparison of empirical findings on stereotype processing.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Stereotyping; Semantics; Language; Adult; Poland; Young Adult; Gender Identity; Adolescent
PubMed: 38753698
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302594 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) comprise a large group of rare congenital conditions. 46,XX DSD, excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), represent... (Review)
Review
Differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) comprise a large group of rare congenital conditions. 46,XX DSD, excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), represent only a small number of these diseases. Due to the rarity of non-CAH 46,XX DSD, data on this sex chromosomal aberration were confined to case reports or case series with small numbers of patients. As the literature is still relatively sparse, medical data on the long-term effects of these pathologies remain scarce. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of current data on the long-term follow-up of patients with non-CAH 46,XX DSD, by covering the following topics: quality of life, gender identity, fertility and sexuality, global health, bone and cardiometabolic effects, cancer risk, and mortality. As non-CAH 46,XX DSD is a very rare condition, we have no accurate data on adult QoL assessment for these patients. Various factors may contribute to a legitimate questioning about their gender identity, which may differ from their sex assigned at birth. A significant proportion of gender dysphoria has been reported in various series of 46,XX DSD patients. However, it is difficult to give an accurate prevalence of gender dysphoria and gender reassignment in non-CAH 46,XX DSD because of the rarity of the data. Whatever the aetiology of non-CAH 46,XX DSD, fertility seems to be impaired. On the other hand, sexuality appears preserved in 46,XX men, whereas it is impaired in women with MRKH syndrome before treatment. Although there is still a paucity of data on general health, bone and cardiometabolic effects, and mortality, it would appear that the 46,XX DSD condition is less severely affected than other DSD conditions. Further structured and continued multi-center follow-up is needed to provide more information on the long-term outcome of this very rare non-CAH 46,XX DSD condition.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital; Disorders of Sex Development; Fertility; Gender Identity; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38752171
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1372887 -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) Jun 2024The minority stress model has become a well-used framework to explain and analyse health among LGBTQ people, and specifically among transgender and gender-diverse people...
The minority stress model has become a well-used framework to explain and analyse health among LGBTQ people, and specifically among transgender and gender-diverse people (TGD), when it is sometimes called 'the gender minority stress model'. Scholars have argued the need for critical discussions about some of the assumptions underlying the gender minority stress model and how it has been used and discussed. Drawing on a pluralistic understanding of theories and employing a Foucauldian understanding of critique, we discuss implicit assumptions and epistemological standpoints of the gender minority stress model and the connected limitations. We also ask what the concept of cisnormativity can give rise to in comparison with the minority stress framework. We make four arguments: 1) the calls for extensions to the model could be seen as a desire to understand and analyse TGD people's health from an all-encompassing perspective, resulting in theoretical vagueness and the silencing of excluded aspects; 2) in the gender minority stress literature, identity is largely taken for granted and there is no consideration of how power is constitutive for all subjects; 3) the model risks individualising the effects of social norms, and internalisation could be further theoretically developed in relation to the repression hypothesis; 4) in the translation process from LGB minorities to TGD, as well as in thinking about cisnormativity, the issue of gender-affirming care has largely been neglected. By initiating a critical discussion around these issues and illustrating how different theories and frameworks can illuminate different possibilities for thinking and knowing, we aim to open up new routes for thinking about TGD health and medicine.
Topics: Humans; Stress, Psychological; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Transgender Persons; Male; Female; Gender Identity
PubMed: 38749253
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116957 -
Cuadernos de Bioetica : Revista Oficial... 2024The differences between the male and female brain in cisgender individuals, those in whom there is no incongruence between the so-called biological sex and the perceived...
The differences between the male and female brain in cisgender individuals, those in whom there is no incongruence between the so-called biological sex and the perceived sex, are known. The genetic basis that underlies the differences observed in the brains of transgender individuals compared to cisgender individuals is also becoming known. In transgender individuals, there is a fundamental change in the connectivity of neurons in the body perception network, which may give rise to gender dysphoria. This knowledge allows for the characterization of the transgender condition and distinguishes it from transgender identities such as non-binary gender, gender fluidity, or genderqueer. Articles published assume, from the perspective of depathologization imposed by Gender Ideology, that these differences are due to a different sexual development. The societal acceptance of this perspective over the last two decades paved the way for medical interventions aimed at affirming the perceived gender, different from the genetic sex, through the continuous administration of cross-sex hormones and, in some cases, mutilating surgery. In adolescents and children, affirmation treatment of the perceived gender begins with puberty blockers, which have negative consequences for ossification and growth. The importance and irreversibility of these 'side effects' require the utmost rigor and complete information about them. Spanish law pushes the ideology to the maximum, infringing on the rights of transgender individuals. Medical ethics emphasize the necessity - the right - of a medical and psychological diagnosis, free from ideological approaches, before initiating what is being called treatment. This includes the right to information, prior to consent, about the positive and negative effects of hormonal administration. It also includes the right to the recognition of diversity among transgender individuals, especially the right to research that allows for treating the brain without altering the body. These rights must be recognized and demanded by the laws.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Transgender Persons; Gender Dysphoria; Brain; Gender Identity; Sex Reassignment Procedures; Adolescent; Transsexualism; Child; Sex Reassignment Surgery
PubMed: 38734925
DOI: 10.30444/CB.168 -
Annals of Epidemiology Jul 2024To assess the association between transgender or gender-questioning identity and screen use (recreational screen time and problematic screen use) in a demographically...
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between transgender or gender-questioning identity and screen use (recreational screen time and problematic screen use) in a demographically diverse national sample of early adolescents in the U.S.
METHODS
We analyzed cross-sectional data from Year 3 of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study®, N = 9859, 2019-2021, mostly 12-13-years-old). Multiple linear regression analyses estimated the associations between transgender or questioning gender identity and screen time, as well as problematic use of video games, social media, and mobile phones, adjusting for confounders.
RESULTS
In a sample of 9859 adolescents (48.8% female, 47.6% racial/ethnic minority, 1.0% transgender, 1.1% gender-questioning), transgender adolescents reported 4.51 (95% CI 1.17-7.85) more hours of total daily recreational screen time including more time on television/movies, video games, texting, social media, and the internet, compared to cisgender adolescents. Gender-questioning adolescents reported 3.41 (95% CI 1.16-5.67) more hours of total daily recreational screen time compared to cisgender adolescents. Transgender identification and questioning one's gender identity was associated with higher problematic social media, video game, and mobile phone use, compared to cisgender identification.
CONCLUSIONS
Transgender and gender-questioning adolescents spend a disproportionate amount of time engaging in screen-based activities and have more problematic use across social media, video game, and mobile phone platforms.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Female; Male; Transgender Persons; Video Games; Cross-Sectional Studies; Screen Time; Social Media; Adolescent Behavior; Gender Identity; Cognition; Child; United States; Adolescent Development
PubMed: 38719179
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2024.04.013 -
PloS One 2024Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, face unique challenges in accessing...
Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, face unique challenges in accessing gender-affirming care and often experience disparities in a variety of health outcomes. Clinical research on TGD health is limited by a lack of standardization on how to best identify these individuals. The objective of this retrospective cohort analysis was to accurately identify and describe TGD adults and their use of gender-affirming care from 2003-2023 in a healthcare system in Utah, United States. International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 and 10 codes and surgical procedure codes, along with sexual orientation and gender identity data were used to develop a dataset of 4,587 TGD adults. During this time frame, 2,985 adults received gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and/or gender-affirming surgery (GAS) within one healthcare system. There was no significant difference in race or ethnicity between TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS compared to TGD adults who did not receive such care. TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS were more likely to have commercial insurance coverage, and adults from rural communities were underrepresented. Patients seeking estradiol-based GAHT tended to be older than those seeking testosterone-based GAHT. The first GAS occurred in 2013, and uptake of GAS have doubled since 2018. This study provides a methodology to identify and examine TGD patients in other health systems and offers insights into emerging trends and access to gender-affirming care.
Topics: Humans; Utah; Transgender Persons; Male; Female; Adult; Electronic Health Records; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Health Equity; Young Adult; Gender Identity; Adolescent; Aged; Sex Reassignment Surgery
PubMed: 38713697
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302895