Worldwide prevalence of anxiety in transgender persons: Systematic review with meta-analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Worldwide prevalence of anxiety in transgender persons

T2 - Systematic review with meta-analysis

AU - Oliveira Teles, Davi

AU - Alves de Oliveira, Raquel

AU - de Mendonça Figueiredo Filho, Manuela

AU - Bezerra Pinheiro, Ana Karina

AU - Lannes Fernandes, Fernando

N1 - Copyright: © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis estimate the global pooled prevalence of anxiety among transgender individuals.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCOhost, VHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Observational studies reporting anxiety prevalence in transgender people were included. Meta-analytical methods were applied using a random-effects model to compute pooled prevalence estimates. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses were assessed.Results: A total of 71 studies, comprising 73,565 transgender individuals from 23 countries, were included. The global pooled prevalence of anxiety was 43% (95% CI: 38–48%), with higher rates among non-binary individuals (59%) compared to transmasculine (44%) and transfeminine (37%) identities. Significant variability was observed across geographic regions, age groups, ethnicity/race of the samples, and assessment methods. Non-probabilistic sampling and self-reported measures were associated with higher prevalence estimates.Conclusion: Transgender individuals experience a disproportionately high prevalence of anxiety, with notable disparities by gender identity and region. Findings emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions and inclusive healthcare policies. Standardized methodologies and broader geographical and ethnical representation in future research are essential to enhance global understanding and inform policy development.

AB - Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis estimate the global pooled prevalence of anxiety among transgender individuals.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCOhost, VHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Observational studies reporting anxiety prevalence in transgender people were included. Meta-analytical methods were applied using a random-effects model to compute pooled prevalence estimates. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses were assessed.Results: A total of 71 studies, comprising 73,565 transgender individuals from 23 countries, were included. The global pooled prevalence of anxiety was 43% (95% CI: 38–48%), with higher rates among non-binary individuals (59%) compared to transmasculine (44%) and transfeminine (37%) identities. Significant variability was observed across geographic regions, age groups, ethnicity/race of the samples, and assessment methods. Non-probabilistic sampling and self-reported measures were associated with higher prevalence estimates.Conclusion: Transgender individuals experience a disproportionately high prevalence of anxiety, with notable disparities by gender identity and region. Findings emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions and inclusive healthcare policies. Standardized methodologies and broader geographical and ethnical representation in future research are essential to enhance global understanding and inform policy development.

KW - Anxiety

KW - mental health

KW - meta-analysis

KW - systematic review

KW - transgender persons

U2 - 10.1080/26895269.2025.2498753

DO - 10.1080/26895269.2025.2498753

M3 - Review article

C2 - 41891085

AN - SCOPUS:105004361436

SN - 2689-5269

VL - 27

SP - 1130

EP - 1152

JO - International Journal of Transgender Health

JF - International Journal of Transgender Health

IS - 2

ER -