A Current Snapshot of Well-being Among Transgender Adults

Abstract

Health challenges, including the onset, severity, and treatment of chronic health conditions, are differentially experienced by sexual and gender minority adults, resulting in health disparities. Using data from the 2023 CDC's BRFSS, we examine heterogeneity across age and transgender groups. American adults (N = 1282; M age = 32.38, SD = 14.5; 71.3% white non-Hispanic) provided data. We examine the number of poor mental health days (M = 13.7/30) and poor physical health days (M = 6.8/30) in the past month experienced by trans women (n = 404), trans men (n = 263), and trans diverse (n = 615) adults. Factorial analysis of variances examining poor mental health days revealed main effects for age and transgender groups, but no interaction between age and transgender identities. Similarly, main effects but no interaction emerged for poor physical health days. Results are discussed in terms of the differential effects of environmental challenges on the health of transgender adults across the adult years.