Voice Perception and Mental Health in Transgender Women

This study aims to examine the association between voice experience and levels of depression, anxiety, and stage of gender affirmation in transgender women.

A cross-sectional study.

Adult transgender women attending a tertiary referral center were recruited between April 2022 and January 2023. They filled in a demographic and health survey, the Hebrew Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (H-TWVQ), the Hebrew Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Hebrew version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener. Descriptive statistics and data regarding the associations between voice experience, grades of anxiety and depression, and stage of gender affirmation were compiled.

Sixty-seven transgender women were included (mean age 26.7 ± 7.78 years, mean time of presenting socially as a woman 5.2 ± 5.2 years). The median H-TWVQ score was 71 (maximal score 120). Most participants reported mild anxiety and mild depression levels. Those who reported a more positive voice experience (H-TWVQ score ≤71) had lower median depression and anxiety scores than participants with a less-positive voice experience (H-TWVQ score >71) (P = 0.028 vs P = 0.044, respectively), complained less of hoarseness (2.9% vs 19.4%, P = 0.045,) and more were employed (78.8% vs 41.9%, P = 0.003). No association was found between voice experience and cross-sex hormone treatment, affirmation surgery undertaken, or number of years presenting socially as a woman.

We observed a potential association between better voice experience and lower anxiety and depression levels among transgender women. No association was found between voice experience and the stage of gender affirmation. Physicians treating this population should be aware of these associations and consider therapeutic means for voice adjustment.