Subjective Wellbeing and Levels of Clinical Symptomatology in a Transwomen Sample and Men Who Have Sex With Men in Chile

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examines the levels of subjective wellbeing (psychological and social wellbeing, subjective happiness, and satisfaction with life) and clinical symptomatology (anxiety, depression, somatization, hostility, and phobic anxiety) in a transwomen sample (n = 112). The sample was recruited through a snowball procedure in Chile (Santiago, Valparaíso, and Arica). Data obtained are compared to those from a group of men who have sex with men (MSM; n = 323). Results reveal statistically significant differences in the levels of happiness (t(157) = 2.16; p = .03; d = .25), satisfaction with life (t(154) = 3.90; p < .001; d = .47), and purpose in life (scale of psychological wellbeing; t(151) = 1.99; p .04; d = .24) reported by the two groups. The transwomen group shows the lowest scores in all dimensions. However, trans women report higher levels of social coherence (t(432) = −4.96; p < .001; d = .53) on the social wellbeing scale, compared to the MSM group. Regarding their levels of clinical symptomatology, trans women report higher levels of anxiety (t(163) = −6.67; p < .001; d = .78), depression (t(167) = −5.61; p < .001; d = .65), somatization (t(161) = −5.10; p < .001; d = .60), hostility (t(153) = −5.38; p < .001; d = .62), and phobic anxiety (t(164) = −6.70; p < .001; d = .80). Results are discussed on the basis of the context of each group.