Non-binary and binary gender identity in Australian trans and gender diverse individuals
Date
2020
Authors
Cheung, A.S.
Leemaqz, S.Y.
Wong, J.W.P.
Chew, D.
Ooi, O.
Cundill, P.
Silberstein, N.
Locke, P.
Zwickl, S.
Grayson, R.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2020; 49(7):2673-2681
Statement of Responsibility
Ada S. Cheung, Shalem Y. Leemaqz, John W. P. Wong, Denise Chew, Olivia Ooi, Pauline Cundill ... et al.
Conference Name
Abstract
Many trans and gender diverse (TGD) people have gender identities that are not exclusively male or female but instead fall in-between or outside of the gender binary (non-binary). It remains unclear if and how those with non-binary gender identity differ from TGD individuals with binary identities. We aimed to understand the sociodemographic and mental health characteristics of people with non-binary identities compared with binary TGD identities. We performed a retrospective audit of new consultations for gender dysphoria between 2011 and 2016 in three clinical settings in Melbourne, Australia; (1) Equinox Clinic, an adult primary care clinic, (2) an adult endocrine specialist clinic, and (3) the Royal Children's Hospital, a child and adolescent specialist referral clinic. Age (grouped by decade), gender identity, sociodemographic, and mental health conditions were recorded. Of 895 TGD individuals, 128 (14.3%) had a non-binary gender. Proportions differed by clinical setting; 30.4% of people attending the adult primary care clinic, 7.4% attending the adult endocrine specialist clinic, and 8.0% attending the pediatric clinic identified as non-binary. A total of 29% of people in the 21-30-year-old age-group had a non-binary gender identity, higher than all other age-groups. Compared to TGD people with a binary gender identity, non-binary people had lower rates of gender-affirming interventions, and a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and illicit drug use. Tailoring clinical services to be inclusive of non-binary people and strategies to support mental health are required. Further research to better understand health needs and guide evidence-based gender-affirming interventions for non-binary people are needed.
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Dissertation Note
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Description
Published online: 13 April 2020
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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020