Sociodemographic characteristics and traumatic experiences in an Italian transgender sample

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to define the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of applicants for gender-affirming surgery at a single Italian institute, officially accredited as the referral unit for gender dysphoria in the Piedmont region. The study population comprised 196 transgender patients (136 trans females and 60 trans males) who met the criteria for gender dysphoria (GD; DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The subjects were asked to supply detailed information about general demographic characteristics, personal relationships, and traumatic events. Our data showed that participants who had experienced traumatic events sought assistance at an older age, had a lower level of education and a higher rate of unemployment, and had taken cross-sex hormonal therapy without a doctor's prescription at a higher frequency than those without experience of traumatic events. In order to better understand the role of trauma in the lives of transgender people, further research is needed in order to expand on our findings and make the proper adjustments to psychological treatment to improve patients’ well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender dysphoria
• sociodemographic characteristics
• transgender
• traumatic events

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all those who made this research possible. First of all, we are most grateful to the participants of this study. We would also explicitly like to thank Molo Foundation and the collaborating medical and psychosocial staff and colleagues of CIDIGeM.