Study Finds Trans Youth More Likely to Experience Disordered Sleeping

This month, a University of Michigan study found that transgender youth suffer from disordered sleeping more than their cisgender counterparts. The analysis states that trans youth are more likely to experience insomnia and sleep apnea, as well as other sleeping disorders, but the study also found a significant decrease in these rates in trans and gender-nonconforming youth who were receiving gender-affirming care.

The study, published on November 1 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, included over 1.2 million youth between the ages of 12 to 25. Out of that number, over 2,600 identified as transgender or gender-nonconforming (referred to in the study and here on out as TGNC). However, to fall in that category, the study required participants to have obtained a diagnosis of TGNC identity from a professional or those who had previously sought out gender-affirming therapy. This could have presented some barriers as to who was included.

“Transgender and gender-nonconforming identity may precede mental health disorders and both influence insomnia diagnosis,” says the first author of the study, Ronald Gavidia, in a press release. “As mood disorders and insomnia have a bidirectional relationship, gender transition through affirming therapies could improve mental health, which, in turn, may decrease the proportion of insomnia by improving gender dysphoria, poor mood and minority stress.”

Though the study sheds light on a matter previously ill-focused on, it does not draw any conclusions about the next steps for gender-affirming therapy as it relates to sleep. It does, however, add to a burgeoning wealth of knowledge regarding improving TGNC quality of life which fundamentally includes access to gender-affirming and transition-related care.

Additionally, it is yet another study that highlights the issues trans youth face. A lack of resources and affirming care, as well as the existence of folks who are fighting against gender-affirming care, all contribute to healthcare issues for queer youth.

Photo courtesy of Tanushree Rao