Higher Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Transgender Than in Cisgender Individuals: Results from a Single-Center Observational Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine 2023-07, Vol.12 (13), p.4501
• Main Authors: Feil, Katharina, Riedl, David, Böttcher, Bettina, Fuchs, Martin, Kapelari, Klaus, Gräßer, Sofie, Toth, Bettina, Lampe, Astrid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Adverse childhood experiences; Child abuse & neglect; Child sexual abuse; Childhood; Cisgender; Clinical medicine; Comparative analysis; Gays & lesbians; Gender dysphoria; Gender identity; Health aspects; Heterosexuals; Hospitals; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Minority & ethnic groups; Non-binary gender; Observational studies; Patients; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychic trauma in children; Psychological aspects; Quantitative psychology; Stress (Psychology); Suicides & suicide attempts; Surveys; Transgender people; Transgender persons; Trauma; Violence
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134501

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been shown to have a tremendous negative impact on health outcomes later in life. This study presents data on the prevalence of ACEs, psychological distress, and trauma-related symptoms in transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people compared to cisgender people. TGD adults ( = 35) and a matched sample of nonpsychiatric hospital patients ( = 35) were surveyed between September 2018 and March 2019. Participants completed the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure Scale to assess ACEs, as well as the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Essener Trauma Inventory to assess psychological distress and trauma-related symptoms. TGD patients reported a higher number of ACEs than cisgender patients (0.7 vs. 2.4; < 0.001; d = 0.94). A total of 28.6% of TGD vs. 5.7% cisgender patients reported four or more ACEs ( < 0.001). The most common forms of ACEs were parental abuse (54.3%) and peer abuse (54.3%). No significantly increased prevalence of sexual abuse was found ( > 0.05). TGD patients also reported a higher prevalence of depression (48.4% vs. 5.7%, < 0.001), posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (59.4% vs. 13.8%, < 0.001), and anxiety (58.1% vs. 28.6%, = 0.016). Health care providers should be aware of and assess ACEs, especially in vulnerable groups such as TGD people, and create a safe place through open-minded, affirming care.