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A Follow-Up Study of Boys With Gender Identity Disorder
Devita Singh1, Susan J Bradley2, Kenneth J Zucker2
1Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|April 15, 2021
Summary
Most boys clinic-referred for gender dysphoria (GD) desist. Those with persistent GD were more gender-variant and from lower social classes. Many desisters identified with a biphilic/androphilic sexual orientation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Gender dysphoria (GD) in childhood is a complex condition requiring long-term study.
- Understanding the developmental trajectories of gender identity and sexual orientation is crucial for clinical care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report follow-up data on the largest sample of clinic-referred boys with gender dysphoria.
- To examine gender identity persistence/desistance and sexual orientation in relation to childhood factors.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 139 clinic-referred boys assessed in childhood (mean age 7.49) and adulthood (mean age 20.58).
- Assessment of gender identity disorder (DSM criteria), gender identity/dysphoria, and sexual orientation (fantasy and behavior).
- Multinomial logistic regression used to identify predictors of outcome.
Main Results:
- High rate of desistance (87.8%) from gender dysphoria by adulthood.
- A significant proportion of participants reported a biphilic/androphilic sexual orientation (63.6% in fantasy, 47.2% in behavior).
- Persisters were older at childhood assessment, from lower social classes, and more gender-variant than desisters.
Conclusions:
- Boys clinic-referred for gender identity concerns show a high rate of desistance.
- A substantial number of individuals develop a biphilic/androphilic sexual orientation, irrespective of persistence of gender dysphoria.
- Findings inform current models of care for childhood gender dysphoria.
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