Papers by Nicole Y Metzger
Psychiatry Research, 2019
Gender dysphoria in transgender men is generally treated with exogenous testosterone administrati... more Gender dysphoria in transgender men is generally treated with exogenous testosterone administration aiming to suppress secondary female sex characteristics and achieve masculinization. However, the effect of testosterone on the personality of transgender men remains largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted a controlled study with 23 trans men (M = 27.2 years, Range = 18-51 years), recruited from internet-groups, medical and psychiatric services in Switzerland and Germany versus 27 cisgender women matched by age as control group. Data were collected prior to hormone therapy (HT), three and six months after the first treatment. Non-pathological personality traits (Big Five) were measured with the revised NEO-Personality-Inventory (NEO-PI-R). The greatest changes in the Big Five and its subdimensions occurred within the first three months. Interaction effects showed a significant decrease in the dimension Neuroticism (p < 0.01) - with the most relevant decline in its facet Depression - conversely, Extraversion (p < 0.001) increased, in particular, within its facets of Assertiveness (p < 0.01) and Warmth (p < 0.01). Expectedly, personality traits were stable in the control group. An overall decrease in interpersonal stress-related traits and a substantial increase in enhanced social-interaction traits and personal well-being occurred. These results enable medical services to ensure that informed-consent prior to HT is evidence-based with respect to potential changes in personality and may reduce concerns of trans men and their significant others regarding increased aggressiveness.
ABSTRACT This empirical study examines the expectations, fears, sexual and social parameters whic... more ABSTRACT This empirical study examines the expectations, fears, sexual and social parameters which influence transmen (female-to-male transgender) in the choice of their desired transition goal. The influence of sexual orientation on the decision relating to sex reassignment measures was specifically examined. The empirical investigation of this question, a mixed quantitative and qualitative research in the form of an online survey of 366 transmen between 16 and 66 years was carried out in Germany and Switzerland. An additional expert-interview with Dr. Niklaus Fluetsch was included to discuss the results. The results of the questionnaire show that transmen with a heterosexual orientation (attraction to members of the same biological sex) as well as those with a heterosexual identity tend to genital reassignment surgery and transmen who are not oriented to the binary gender system, are free to choose their transition goal. According to the present study, many transmen do without phalloplasty surgery because of the high complication rate. According to the present results twice as many transmen would wish for genital reassignment surgery if the results of these operations improved, regardless of their sexual identity or orientation. The present study represents the most comprehensive survey of transmen in the German-speaking part of Europe so far. It provides a deeper insight into the intra-and extra-mental mechanisms in relation to the transition process of transmen and thus contributes to the education and information of medical and psychological professionals.
Psychiatry Research, 2019
Gender dysphoria in transgender men is generally treated with exogenous testosterone administrati... more Gender dysphoria in transgender men is generally treated with exogenous testosterone administration aiming to suppress secondary female sex characteristics and achieve masculinization. However, the effect of testosterone on the personality of transgender men remains largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted a controlled study with 23 trans men (M = 27.2 years, Range = 18–51 years), recruited from internet-groups, medical and psychiatric services in Switzerland and Germany versus 27 cisgender women matched by age as control group. Data were collected prior to hormone therapy (HT), three and six months after the first treatment. Non-pathological personality traits (Big Five) were measured with the revised NEO-Personality-Inventory (NEO-PI-R). The greatest changes in the Big Five and its subdimensions occurred within the first three months. Interaction effects showed a significant decrease in the dimension Neuroticism (p < 0.01) - with the most relevant decline in its facet Depression - conversely, Extraversion (p < 0.001) increased, in particular, within its facets of Assertiveness (p < 0.01) and Warmth (p < 0.01). Expectedly, personality traits were stable in the control group. An overall decrease in interpersonal stress-related traits and a substantial increase in enhanced social-interaction traits and personal well-being occurred. These results enable medical services to ensure that informed-consent prior to HT is evidence-based with respect to potential changes in personality and may reduce concerns of trans men and their significant others regarding increased aggressiveness.
Influencing factors on the decision process of the transition objective of transmen. , Feb 15, 2014
This empirical study examines the expectations, fears, sexual and social parameters which influen... more This empirical study examines the expectations, fears, sexual and social parameters which influence transmen (female-to-male transgender) in the choice of their desired transition goal. The influence of sexual orientation on the decision relating to sex reassignment measures was specifically examined. The empirical investigation of this question, a mixed quantitative and qualitative research in the form of an online survey of 366 transmen between 16 and 66 years was carried out in Germany and Switzerland. An additional expert-interview with Dr. Niklaus Fluetsch was included to discuss the results. The results of the questionnaire show that transmen with a heterosexual orientation (attraction to members of the same biological sex) as well as those with a heterosexual identity tend to genital reassignment surgery and transmen who are not oriented to the binary gender system, are free to choose their transition goal. According to the present study, many transmen do without phalloplasty surgery because of the high complication rate. According to the present results twice as many transmen would wish for genital reassignment surgery if the results of these operations improved, regardless of their sexual identity or orientation. The present study represents the most comprehensive survey of transmen in the German-speaking part of Europe so far. It provides a deeper insight into the intra-and extra-mental mechanisms in relation to the transition process of transmen and thus contributes to the education and information of medical and psychological professionals.
Conference Presentations by Nicole Y Metzger
Most transmen seek hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the aim is to match their appearance to the... more Most transmen seek hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the aim is to match their appearance to their felt gender. This study analyses if personality traits (Big Five) of transmen change with HRT by evaluating the 35 facets of the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), the symptoms of depression (BDI-II) and the life satisfaction (FLZ) of 23 transmen from Germany and Switzerland prior to HRT and up to six months of treatment and cross-checking them with testosterone and estradiol levels. After three months of hormone therapy the results show a significant decrease in depressive symptoms as well as in the facets of neuroticism and a substantial increase in life satisfaction among transmen. The survey results show that a strong increase in psychological well-being and quality of life due to HRT can be assumed. Therefore personality traits seem to be affected considerably by HRT over time.
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Papers by Nicole Y Metzger
Conference Presentations by Nicole Y Metzger