Association between Sexual Abuse Experience and Salivary Stress Biomarkers among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in Chennai – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Gender-nonconforming people undergo unimaginable sexual and physical abuse. This leads to stress and other stress-related disorders which can be easily determined by salivary stress biomarkers. Early life stress has an association with the immune system linked with stress. Transgenders and gender nonconforming people are prone to sexual abuse in early life more compared to normal people. This study aims to know about the association between sexual and physical abuse experience and salivary stress biomarkers in Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional epidemiological study. A snowball sampling design was adopted. The study was conducted in various places in Thozhi Shelter for Transgenders, Chetpet, Chennai among Gender non-conforming individuals and Transgenders. This study was conducted in April 2022. MDA and IL-6 levels were determined from their saliva using the passive drool method.

Result: Interleukin L 6 and MDA levels were significantly higher in the GNC Group than in the control group. 63.64% of Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals experienced sexual abuse whereas 73% of them have experienced physical abuse in their lifetime.

Conclusion: Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals who experienced physical/sexual abuse have increased IL 6 levels and decreased MDA levels in saliva when compared to the non-transgender individuals.