Work

Structural stigma, parenthood patterns and depressive symptoms among transgender and gender diverse individuals across 30 countries in Europe

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Life circumstances of transgender and gender diverse individuals are strongly influenced by where they live. Little is known about how structural factors, for example, laws, policies, and population attitudes relating to transgender and gender diverse populations, affect their family building or mental health as parents. Objectives: We aimed to examine parenthood patterns among European transgender and gender diverse individuals, and whether their likelihood of biological parenthood differed by sex assigned at birth, gender identity or country level structural stigma. Another goal was to assess patterns of depressive symptoms by country level structural stigma based on parenthood. Methods: Using multi-level regression, we combined cross-sectional individual level data on parenthood, gender identity, sex assigned at birth and depressive symptoms from 13,302 transgender and gender diverse individuals with a measure of country level structural stigma based on national legislation, policies and population attitudes across 30 European countries. Results: In total, 8.3% were parents. Biological parenthood was more common among individuals assigned male than female. The odds ratio of biological parenthood was higher for transgender women than gender diverse individuals assigned male but lower for transgender men than gender diverse individuals assigned female. Country level structural stigma was not significantly associated with parenthood. Parenthood status and structural stigma did not predict depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Gender identity and sex assigned at birth influence family building in transgender and gender diverse individuals, most likely through societal factors and gender dysphoria. An association between structural stigma, parenthood and mental health could not be established.

Source: International Journal of Transgender Health

DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2025.2537879

Authors: Felicitas Falck, B. D. Smart, L. Frisén, R. Bränström

Institution: Karolinska Institutet

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Vetenskapsrådet, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd