Associations Between Transition-Specific Stress Experience, Nocturnal Decline in

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Associations Between Transition-Specific Stress Experience, Nocturnal Decline in Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Transgender Men
The Williams Institute
By L. Zachary DuBois
January 2012


http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/transgender-issues/buboisamjhbarticle-dec-2011/ 🔗


This study documents a number of important physiological manifestations of stress associated with the process of transition, describing the physical impacts of psychosocial stress during various stages of transition for trans men.

Using a combination of interviews to assess stress levels and data on physical indicators and behaviors, the study finds that trans men in the early stages of transition who reported stress related to being "out" experienced significant physiological impacts in terms of blood pressure.  Trans men in the middle to later stages of transitioning who reported stress related to "passing" as having been assigned a male sex at birth had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein levels, which has been linked to cardiovascular disease.