Aldridge Zoë, Thorne Nat, Bouman Walter Pierre, Witcomb Gemma L, Arcelus Jon
Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK.
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Jan 29;11(3):379. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11030379.
While positive changes in mental health have been found following gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT), it is unclear how pre-GAHT mental health and social support can influence treatment outcomes. To address this, a retrospective longitudinal design was used in which 137 participants completed measures of social support, anxiety, and depression prior to GAHT (T0) and a measure of life satisfaction 18 months after GAHT (T1). The data showed no significant differences in life satisfaction at T1 based on T0 caseness of anxiety or depression. It was also found that T1 life satisfaction was not predicted by levels of anxiety, depression, or social support at T0. The lack of significant differences in life satisfaction at 18 months post-GAHT based on pre-GAHT mental health, coupled with no evidence for the predictive role social support suggest that these factors are not central to long-term life satisfaction. For many, lower mental wellbeing may be part of the experience of awaiting GAHT and should not be regarded as indicative of longer-term issues. Instead, facilitation of social support connections and mental health support should be offered both concurrently with, and for those awaiting, GAHT.
虽然在接受性别肯定激素治疗（GAHT）后心理健康出现了积极变化，但尚不清楚GAHT前的心理健康和社会支持如何影响治疗结果。为了解决这个问题，采用了回顾性纵向设计，137名参与者在GAHT前（T0）完成了社会支持、焦虑和抑郁的测量，并在GAHT后18个月（T1）完成了生活满意度的测量。数据显示，根据T0时的焦虑或抑郁情况，T1时的生活满意度没有显著差异。还发现，T1时的生活满意度无法由T0时的焦虑、抑郁或社会支持水平预测。基于GAHT前的心理健康，GAHT后18个月的生活满意度没有显著差异，再加上没有证据表明社会支持具有预测作用，这表明这些因素并非长期生活满意度的核心因素。对许多人来说，较低的心理健康水平可能是等待GAHT过程中的一部分体验，不应被视为长期问题的指示。相反，应在进行GAHT的同时，为等待GAHT的人提供社会支持联系和心理健康支持。
