Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS): Construct validity among transgender, nonbinary, and LGBQ
Jenifer K McGuire1, Dianne Berg1, Jory M Catalpa1
1Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
International Journal of Transgender Health
|October 5, 2020
Summary
The revised Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale-Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS) is a valid and reliable measure for assessing gender dysphoria across diverse gender identities. This new scale demonstrates strong measurement invariance, making it suitable for broad clinical and research applications.
Area of Science:
- Psychometrics
- Gender Studies
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The original Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale (UGDS) has been revised to create a comprehensive measure.
- The new version, UGDS-GS, assesses gender identity and expression dissatisfaction and comfort with affirmed identity over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the construct validity of the revised Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale-Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS).
- To assess the measurement invariance of the UGDS-GS across cisgender, binary transgender, and nonbinary/genderqueer populations.
Main Methods:
- Combined both versions of the original UGDS to create the UGDS-GS.
- Conducted tests of measurement invariance across three distinct gender identity groups.
- Analyzed item-level data to identify group-specific experiences.
Main Results:
- The UGDS-GS demonstrated acceptable configural and metric invariance across all three gender groups.
- The scale showed strong invariance across binary transgender and nonbinary/genderqueer individuals.
- Item-level findings confirmed the measure's ability to differentiate experiences among cisgender, binary transgender, and nonbinary/genderqueer individuals.
Conclusions:
- The UGDS-GS is a substantial improvement, showing a large degree of invariance across diverse gender subgroups.
- This 18-item scale is inclusive of all gender identities and expressions.
- The UGDS-GS is suitable for longitudinal use from adolescence to adulthood and across transition stages.
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