Regular Article: Psychological burdens are associated with young male transsexuals in Korea

• Published in: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences 2006-08, Vol.60 (4), p.417-421
• Main Authors: Kim, Tae-Suk, Cheon, Young-Hoon, Pae, Chi-Un, Kim, Jung-Jin, Lee, Chang-Uk, Lee, Su-Jung, Paik, In-Ho, Lee, Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1323-1316; 1440-1819
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01525.x

The purpose of this study was to compare differences of the psychological burdens between young male transsexuals and age-gender matched non-transsexuals with standardized psychiatric rating scales in Korea. A total of 43 biologically unrelated young male transsexuals and 49 age-gender matched non-transsexuals participated in the study. All subjects completed Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III). The transsexuals showed significantly higher scores on the BDI (P < 0.0001) and SADS (P = 0.002) and lower scores on the SES (P < 0.0001) and Adaptability and Cohesion subscales (P = 0.016 and P < 0.0001, respectively) of the FACES-III than those of the non-transsexuals. The present study found young male transsexuals may be potentially vulnerable to develop psychiatric and familial problems in comparison with non-transsexuals, at least in Korea, although methodological limitations exist. Further well-designed researches should be launched to confirm this preliminary study.