By: Maya Listman


A new study released in the March 2016 issue of Pediatrics presents findings on the mental health of prepubescent children who begin to express their gender identities. Researchers compared a sample of 73 transgender children ages 3-12 with 49 of their siblings and 73 “typically developing” children in the same age range. The researchers found that children who were allowed to express their gender identity by changing their names, hairstyles, clothing, and pronoun use had normal levels of depression and only slightly higher levels of anxiety as compared to their peers.

Previous research has found that transgender children often have higher levels of depression and anxiety. Because of their findings, the researchers came to the conclusion that poor mental health in transgender children is not inevitable. Rather, support from loved ones, including loving aunts, may be associated with good mental health among transgender youth.


Photos: Remains
Published: March 8, 2016