Transgender and Gender-Diverse Autistic Adolescents Are at Elevated Risk of Depression
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| Title: | Transgender and Gender-Diverse Autistic Adolescents Are at Elevated Risk of Depression |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Joseph Pereira, Natalia Ramos (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2026 30(2):316-328. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | 2T32MH0164344 5K23MH13287402 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Autism Spectrum Disorders, Transgender People, Adolescents, LGBTQ People, At Risk Persons, Depression (Psychology), Correlation, Mental Disorders, Individual Characteristics |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251396712 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | Autistic people are more likely to be transgender and gender diverse than the general population. Furthermore, co-occurring trait-level autism and transgender and gender-diverse identity are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and autistic adolescents who identify as transgender and gender diverse have more internalizing behaviors than both non-transgender and gender-diverse autistic adolescents and non-autistic transgender and gender-diverse adolescents. However, no study has yet examined the extent to which transgender and gender-diverse identity predicts specific co-occurring mental health diagnoses in autistic adolescents. In a sample of 9027 autistic adolescents aged 13 to 17 drawn from the Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge cohort, 36 of whom we identified as transgender and gender diverse, we estimated univariate models of transgender and gender-diverse identity as a predictor of individual diagnoses. Depression, but no other diagnosis, remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. In a multiple regression model that incorporated known risk factors for adolescent depression (e.g. language impairment and disturbed sleep), transgender and gender-diverse identity remained a significant predictor (odds ratio: 4.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.87-8.67, p = 5.94 × 10[superscript -4]) with an effect size at least as strong as that of a depression family history. This suggests transgender and gender-diverse autistic adolescents, who often face stigma and discrimination, are particularly vulnerable to depression. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1494733 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Autistic people are more likely to be transgender and gender diverse than the general population. Furthermore, co-occurring trait-level autism and transgender and gender-diverse identity are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and autistic adolescents who identify as transgender and gender diverse have more internalizing behaviors than both non-transgender and gender-diverse autistic adolescents and non-autistic transgender and gender-diverse adolescents. However, no study has yet examined the extent to which transgender and gender-diverse identity predicts specific co-occurring mental health diagnoses in autistic adolescents. In a sample of 9027 autistic adolescents aged 13 to 17 drawn from the Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge cohort, 36 of whom we identified as transgender and gender diverse, we estimated univariate models of transgender and gender-diverse identity as a predictor of individual diagnoses. Depression, but no other diagnosis, remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. In a multiple regression model that incorporated known risk factors for adolescent depression (e.g. language impairment and disturbed sleep), transgender and gender-diverse identity remained a significant predictor (odds ratio: 4.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.87-8.67, p = 5.94 × 10[superscript -4]) with an effect size at least as strong as that of a depression family history. This suggests transgender and gender-diverse autistic adolescents, who often face stigma and discrimination, are particularly vulnerable to depression. |
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| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251396712 |
