Autism and Transgender identity: implications for depression and anxiety

Jennifer Joanne Murphy; Freya Prentice; Reubs Walsh; Caroline Catmur; Geoffrey Bird

doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101466

Autism and Transgender identity: implications for depression and anxiety

Jennifer Joanne Murphy, Freya Prentice, Reubs Walsh, Caroline Catmur, Geoffrey Bird

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Abstract

Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system.

Original language	English
Article number	101466
Journal	Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Volume	69
Early online date	18 Oct 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101466
Publication status	Published - Jan 2020

Keywords

Anxiety
Autism
Depression
Gender identity
Gender variance
Transgender

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101466Licence: CC BY

Autism and Transgender identity_MURPHY_Accepted30September2019_GOLD AAMAccepted author manuscript, 359 KB
Autism and Transgender identity_MURPHY_Accepted30September2019_GOLD VoRFinal published version, 352 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Autism and Transgender identity: implications for depression and anxiety",

abstract = "Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system.",

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AU - Walsh, Reubs

AU - Catmur, Caroline

AU - Bird, Geoffrey

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N2 - Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system.

AB - Autistic traits are over-represented in transgender populations, and gender variance is high in autistic individuals. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that the autism/transgender overlap is limited to individuals sex assigned female. Few studies, however, have investigated the impact of this overlap on mental health. This study therefore sought to investigate whether the autism/transgender overlap confers an increased risk of depression or anxiety. An online study of 727 individuals revealed a substantial overlap between transgender identity and autism, with increased autistic traits found in trans men compared to trans women. Depression and anxiety were highest in autistic-trans individuals, but no superadditive effect was observed. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the wider healthcare system.

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Autism and Transgender identity: implications for depression and anxiety

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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