Effects of the COVID19 Pandemic on Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adolescents' Mental Health.

ABSTRACT

We assessed the effects of the COVID19 lockdown on the mental health of transgender and gender non-conforming (TGN) youth (n = 18) vs cisgender youth (29 males; 29 females). Coronavirus Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used in an online study. No group differences were found in demographic variables and exposure to COVID19. Negative emotions/feeling increased for all groups. Cisgender youth reported using more adaptive emotion regulation strategies than TGN youth. While the lockdown similarly affected TGN and cisgender youth, the former showed elevated levels of symptomatology and fewer adaptive emotional regulation strategies.