A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University has revealed that autistic transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals report significantly poorer healthcare experiences than both autistic cisgender individuals and non-autistic cisgender individuals. Published in Molecular Autism, this study provides new insights into the healthcare challenges faced by autistic TGD individuals, highlighting the need for improved support and understanding in healthcare settings.
Study Overview: The research, which is the first large-scale investigation into the healthcare experiences of autistic TGD individuals, surveyed 174 autistic TGD individuals, 1,094 autistic cisgender individuals, and 1,295 non-autistic cisgender individuals. The survey explored a wide range of factors, including mental and physical health conditions, healthcare quality, and specific aspects of healthcare experiences. These aspects included communication, anxiety, access to care, advocacy, and sensory experiences, among others.
Key Findings: The study’s results indicate that both autistic TGD and autistic cisgender individuals reported poorer healthcare experiences across 50 out of 51 items when compared to non-autistic cisgender individuals. These findings confirm that autistic people, regardless of gender identity, tend to experience lower-quality healthcare compared to non-autistic individuals.
Autistic TGD individuals, in particular, were found to be three to 11 times more likely to experience anxiety, shutdowns, and meltdowns in response to common healthcare experiences compared to non-autistic cisgender individuals. For example, only 2 out of 10 autistic cisgender adults and 1 out of 10 autistic TGD adults understood what healthcare professionals meant when discussing their health, knew what was expected of them, or were able to describe their pain effectively. In contrast, 10 out of 10 non-autistic cisgender individuals were able to provide such responses.
Health Conditions and Diagnosis: Autistic TGD individuals, along with autistic cisgender individuals, were also more likely to report long-term physical and mental health conditions, whether formally diagnosed, suspected, or recommended for further assessment. For every 10 non-autistic cisgender individuals with at least one diagnosed physical health condition, 15 autistic cisgender individuals and 23 autistic TGD individuals reported similar conditions. When it came to mental health conditions, the disparity was even more striking: for every 10 non-autistic cisgender individuals with a diagnosed mental health condition, 50 autistic cisgender individuals and 109 autistic TGD individuals reported the same.
Mental Health Risks: The study also underscores the heightened mental health risks faced by both autistic and TGD individuals. Autistic TGD individuals, in particular, were found to be at a significantly higher risk of self-harm and suicide-related behaviors. Compared to non-autistic cisgender individuals, autistic cisgender individuals were 4.6 times more likely to report self-harm, while autistic TGD individuals were 5.8 times more likely to do so. This reinforces previous findings that both autistic and TGD people are at an increased risk of suicide and related behaviors.
Implications for Healthcare: The findings of this study are crucial for understanding the intersectional challenges faced by autistic TGD individuals in healthcare settings. The research suggests that both autism and gender diversity can complicate healthcare experiences, making it essential for healthcare providers to offer more tailored, supportive, and accessible care. It also highlights the importance of improving communication, reducing anxiety, and addressing sensory sensitivities, which can make healthcare encounters particularly distressing for autistic TGD people.
Conclusion: This study adds to the growing body of research emphasizing the need for more inclusive and effective healthcare for marginalized groups, particularly those at the intersection of autism and gender diversity. With the evidence clearly showing that autistic TGD individuals face significant barriers to quality healthcare, there is an urgent need for healthcare systems to adapt and ensure that these individuals receive the care and support they deserve.
You Might Be Interested In:
