Coping self-efficacy, social support, and mental health among transgender and gender diverse individuals seeking vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty

Aim: The process of seeking genital gender-affirming surgery (GGAS) can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Robust social support and effective coping strategies are essential for individuals pursuing GGAS, particularly during the perioperative period, when the complex demands of the healthcare system may exacerbate the adverse mental health effects of stigma, discrimination, and isolation experienced by transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. To inform interventions aimed at enhancing the mental health of TGD individuals during the perioperative period, we assessed the relationships among coping, mental health, and perceived social support in TGD patients seeking GGAS (vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty) at an academic medical center. Methods: Patients aged 18 years and older who attended a consultation visit for GGAS completed a one-time questionnaire (N = 118). Depression, anxiety, coping skills, and perceived social support were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item scale (GAD-7), Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), respectively. Results: Among respondents, greater depression symptoms (PHQ-2 ≥ 3) were associated with lower coping self-efficacy. Lower coping self-efficacy was associated with higher symptoms of anxiety. Higher coping self-efficacy was associated with higher perceived level of social support. Conclusions: These findings identify an opportunity for perioperative interventions that address coping self-efficacy and social support for TGD individuals pursuing GGAS.