Trans People, Transitioning, Mental Health, Life and Job Satisfaction

Nick Drydakis

No 12695, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: For trans people (i.e. people whose gender is not the same as the sex they were assigned at birth) evidence suggests that transitioning (i.e. the steps a trans person may take to live in the gender with which they identify) positively affects positivity towards life, extraversion, ability to cope with stress, optimism about the future, self-reported health, social relations, self-esteem, body image, enjoyment of tasks, personal performance, job rewards and relations with colleagues. These relationships are found to be positively affected by gender affirmation and support from family members, peers, schools and workplaces, stigma prevention programmes, coping intervention strategies, socioeconomic conditions, anti-discrimination policies, and positive actions. Also important are legislation including the ability to change one's sex on government identification documents without having to undergo sex reassignment surgery, accessible and affordable transitioning resources, hormone therapy, surgical treatments, high-quality surgical techniques, adequate preparation and mental health support before and during transitioning, and proper follow-up care. Societal marginalization, family rejection, violations of human and political rights in health care, employment, housing and legal systems, gendered spaces, and internalization of stigma can negatively affect trans people's well-being and integration in societies. The present study highlights that although transitioning itself can bring well-being adjustments, a transphobic environment may result in adverse well-being outcomes. Policy makers should aim to facilitate transitioning and create cultures of inclusion in different settings, such as schools, workplaces, health services and justice.

Keywords: life satisfaction; mental health; gender reassignment surgery; transitioning; trans people; job satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 I10 J10 J12 J28 K38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2019-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap and nep-lab
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Published - published in: K. F. Zimmermann (Ed.) Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics, New York: Springer, First Online: 04 March 2020

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Working Paper: Trans People, Transitioning, Mental Health, Life and Job Satisfaction (2019)
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