Gender Identity and Transition: Relationships With Sleep Disorders in US Youth

    August 2022 in “ Journal of clinical sleep medicine ”
    Ronald Gavidia, Daniel G. Whitney, Shelley Hershner, Ellen Selkie, Riva Tauman, Galit Levi Dunietz
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    TLDR Transgender youth have more sleep disorders, but gender-affirming therapy may help reduce them.
    This study examined the relationship between transgender or gender-nonconforming (TGNC) identity, gender-affirming therapy (GAT), and sleep disorders among youth aged 12-25 years using a large US-based administrative claims database. The study included 1,216,044 youth, of which 2,603 (0.2%) were identified as TGNC. TGNC youth had significantly higher odds of insomnia (OR = 5.4), sleep apnea (OR = 3.0), and other sleep disorders (OR = 3.1) compared to cisgender youth. However, TGNC youth on GAT had decreased odds of any sleep disorder (OR = 0.5) compared to those not on GAT. The findings suggest a high burden of sleep disorders in TGNC youth, but GAT may have a protective effect. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore these relationships over time.
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