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JOURNAL OF PSICOPATHOLOGY

Psychopathology of Sexual Behavior

Issue 4 - December 2022

Alterations in body image, self-esteem and quality of life in a sample of Italian transgender individuals before genderaffirming surgery

Authors

Giuseppe Maniaci , Caterina La Cascia , Crocettarachele Sartorio , Laura Ferraro , Alessandra Giammanco , Rosalia Anselmo , Giuseppe Oddo , Elisa Parrinello , Francesca Toia , Giovanni Zabbia , Adriana Cordova , Daniele La Barbera

Key words: body image, gender-affirming care, gender dysphoria, gender incongruence, quality of life
DOI: 10.36148/2284-0249-462
Submission Date: 2023-01-20
Publication Date: 2022-11-28

Abstract

Objectives
Mental health, alterations in body image, self-esteem, general and sexual quality of life among transgender individuals waiting for gender-affirming surgery versus cisgender individuals were investigated
Methods
47 Italian transgender participants and 47 cisgender participants completed self-report measures.
Results
Compared to cisgender ones, trans participants showed higher alterations in self-esteem, body image, and psychological, social, and sexual quality of life, together with a comparable level of mental health conditions (Tab. I). No significant differences emerged between trans men and trans women in terms of the variables taken into account (Tab. II). Moreover, trans individuals receiving hormone therapy are more likely to report both better quality of life and body image than those who are not receiving it yet (Tab. III).
Conclusions
The main psychological distress of individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria seems related to the symptoms directly associated with their gender incongruence, such as body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. Healthcare professionals should consider providing surgery and hormonal therapy together with psychotherapy as best practices for such patients.

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Authors

Giuseppe Maniaci - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Caterina La Cascia - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Crocettarachele Sartorio - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Laura Ferraro - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Alessandra Giammanco - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Rosalia Anselmo - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Giuseppe Oddo - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Elisa Parrinello - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Francesca Toia - Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Giovanni Zabbia - Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Adriana Cordova - Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Daniele La Barbera - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Section of Psychiatry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

How to Cite
[1]
Maniaci, G., La Cascia, C. , Sartorio, C., Ferraro, L., Giammanco, A., Anselmo, R., Oddo, G., Parrinello, E., Toia, F., Zabbia, G., Cordova, A. and La Barbera, D. 2022. Alterations in body image, self-esteem and quality of life in a sample of Italian transgender individuals before genderaffirming surgery. Journal of Psychopathology. 28, 4 (Nov. 2022). DOI:https://doi.org/10.36148/2284-0249-462.
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