Oestreicher-Kedem Yael, Jacob Tom, Lior Yotam, Kurzrock Anna, Goldman Mia, Wasserzug Oshri, Nachalon Yuval, Neiderman Narin Nard Carmel, Yaish Iris
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
J Voice. 2024 Oct 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.09.003.
This study aims to examine the association between voice experience and levels of depression, anxiety, and stage of gender affirmation in transgender women.
A cross-sectional study.
Adult transgender women attending a tertiary referral center were recruited between April 2022 and January 2023. They filled in a demographic and health survey, the Hebrew Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (H-TWVQ), the Hebrew Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Hebrew version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener. Descriptive statistics and data regarding the associations between voice experience, grades of anxiety and depression, and stage of gender affirmation were compiled.
Sixty-seven transgender women were included (mean age 26.7 ± 7.78 years, mean time of presenting socially as a woman 5.2 ± 5.2 years). The median H-TWVQ score was 71 (maximal score 120). Most participants reported mild anxiety and mild depression levels. Those who reported a more positive voice experience (H-TWVQ score ≤71) had lower median depression and anxiety scores than participants with a less-positive voice experience (H-TWVQ score >71) (P = 0.028 vs P = 0.044, respectively), complained less of hoarseness (2.9% vs 19.4%, P = 0.045,) and more were employed (78.8% vs 41.9%, P = 0.003). No association was found between voice experience and cross-sex hormone treatment, affirmation surgery undertaken, or number of years presenting socially as a woman.
We observed a potential association between better voice experience and lower anxiety and depression levels among transgender women. No association was found between voice experience and the stage of gender affirmation. Physicians treating this population should be aware of these associations and consider therapeutic means for voice adjustment.
本研究旨在探讨跨性别女性的嗓音体验与抑郁、焦虑水平及性别确认阶段之间的关联。
一项横断面研究。
2022年4月至2023年1月期间，招募了前往三级转诊中心就诊的成年跨性别女性。她们填写了一份人口统计学和健康调查问卷、希伯来语跨性别女性嗓音问卷（H-TWVQ）、希伯来语患者健康问卷以及希伯来语版广泛性焦虑症筛查量表。收集了关于嗓音体验、焦虑和抑郁程度以及性别确认阶段之间关联的描述性统计数据。
纳入了67名跨性别女性（平均年龄26.7±7.78岁，平均以女性身份社交的时间为5.2±5.2年）。H-TWVQ评分中位数为71分（满分120分）。大多数参与者报告有轻度焦虑和轻度抑郁水平。那些报告嗓音体验更积极（H-TWVQ评分≤71）的参与者，其抑郁和焦虑评分中位数低于嗓音体验较不积极（H-TWVQ评分>71）的参与者（分别为P=0.028和P=0.044），声音嘶哑的抱怨更少（2.9%对19.4%，P=0.045），就业的比例更高（78.8%对41.9%，P=0.003）。未发现嗓音体验与跨性别激素治疗、接受的性别确认手术或以女性身份社交的年数之间存在关联。
我们观察到跨性别女性中较好的嗓音体验与较低的焦虑和抑郁水平之间存在潜在关联。未发现嗓音体验与性别确认阶段之间存在关联。治疗该人群的医生应了解这些关联，并考虑嗓音调整的治疗方法。
