Exploring gender euphoria in a sample of transgender and gender diverse patients at two U.S. urban community health centers

Abstract

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people are affected by mental health inequities. Gender euphoria—positive emotions or joy in gender—may be associated with positive mental health. Between February 2019–July 2021, we surveyed 2,165 adult TGD patients (median age = 28 years; 29.2 % people of color; 29.6 % nonbinary; 81.0 % taking hormones) evaluating gender euphoria and mental health. Overall, 35.0 % self-reported gender euphoria, 50.9 % gender dysphoria, 23.5 % alcohol misuse, and 44.5 % resilience. Gender euphoria differed by race, gender, insurance, and hormone use, and was associated with reduced gender dysphoria (adjusted Odds Ratio[aOR] = 0.58; 95 % confidence interval [95 %CI] = 0.47–0.72) and alcohol misuse (aOR = 0.75; 95 %CI = 0.60–0.95), and increased resilience (aOR = 1.31; 95 %CI = 1.07–1.61). The construct of gender euphoria may be a promising mental health target.