A comparative evaluation of mental health, depression and post-operative role adaptation in Iranian transgender people living in Iran and Germany

The present study examined mental health, depression, and role adaptation in Iranian transgender people after sex reassignment surgery in Iran and Germany.

The study population of this descriptive casual-comparative included Iranian transgender people living in Iran and Germany who underwent sex reassignment surgery after undergoing all treatment stages. Among them, 50 people (25 Iranian transgender people living in Iran and 25 Iranian transgender people living in Germany) were selected by the convenience sampling. Data were obtained online through General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Beck Depression Inventory, and Bem Gender Role Inventory in 2020. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the relationships between variables.

The results showed that 70% of the transgender people were male and 30% were female, with a mean age of 29±6 years. The general health (mental health) mean score was 22±10, and the mean score of depression was 2.9. The general health (mental health) was higher in males than females. The general health (mental health) of the participants was higher in Germany than in Iran but the difference was not significant. Also, the post-operative role adaptation between transgender individuals in the two societies was not different significantly (P> 0.05).

Due to the lack of significant differences in mental health and role adaptation between the two groups in Iran and Germany, it can be said that environmental and social differences have not been effective. Individual and familial structures have been much more effective than the community and social culture.