Schvey Natasha A, Klein David A, Pearlman Arielle T, Riggs David S
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital (FBCH), Adolescent Medicine, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, USA.
Transgend Health. 2020 Sep 2;5(3):149-157. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2019.0044. eCollection 2020 Sep.
Department of Defense policy prohibits, with limited exceptions, transgender individuals from serving in their affirmed gender in the U.S. Military, citing potential impact on unit cohesion and military readiness. To date, however, little is known about the sociodemographic profile and health of transgender military personnel. U.S. Military personnel who self-identified as transgender completed anonymous online measures of demographics and military service. Participants also completed measures of health, mood, eating pathology, and risk behaviors. One hundred ninety-five service members (mean age: 28.9±7.2 years, 48.7% transmale, 70.3% non-Hispanic White, 7.83±5.9 years in service) completed the survey. The majority of respondents first identified as transgender before military accession. Most had disclosed their gender identity to their command and providers, and had undertaken steps toward gender affirmation. The sample as a whole reported above average physical health, with mood symptoms within normal ranges and few reported risk behaviors. Analyses of covariance indicated that transmales reported significantly better mental health and psychosocial functioning compared with transfemales. In light of current policy that precludes, with limited exceptions, transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. Military in their affirmed gender, the current study provides an initial sociodemographic profile of this understudied population and indicates that transgender service members report above average physical health and few risk behaviors. Preliminary analyses indicated that transfemales in the military may be at higher risk for mental health concerns, compared with transmales. Additional research is needed to elucidate risk and protective factors among transgender service members.
美国国防部政策禁止变性者在美国军队中以其确认的性别服役，少数情况除外，理由是这可能对部队凝聚力和军事准备状态产生影响。然而，迄今为止，关于变性军人的社会人口学特征和健康状况知之甚少。自我认定为变性者的美国军人完成了关于人口统计学和军事服役情况的匿名在线调查。参与者还完成了健康、情绪、饮食病理学和风险行为方面的调查。195名军人（平均年龄：28.9±7.2岁，48.7%为跨性别男性，70.3%为非西班牙裔白人，服役年限7.83±5.9年）完成了该调查。大多数受访者在入伍前首次认定自己为变性者。大多数人已向其指挥官和医疗服务提供者披露了自己的性别认同，并已采取步骤进行性别确认。总体样本报告身体健康状况高于平均水平，情绪症状在正常范围内，且报告的风险行为较少。协方差分析表明，与跨性别女性相比，跨性别男性报告的心理健康和社会心理功能明显更好。鉴于目前除少数情况外禁止变性者在美国军队中以其确认的性别服役的政策，本研究提供了对这一研究不足人群的初步社会人口学特征描述，并表明变性军人报告的身体健康状况高于平均水平，且风险行为较少。初步分析表明，与跨性别男性相比，军队中的跨性别女性可能面临更高的心理健康问题风险。需要进一步研究以阐明变性军人中的风险因素和保护因素。
