Development of Gender Non-Contentedness During Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Adolescence is a critical period for gender identity development.
• Gender non-contentedness, defined as unhappiness with one's sex-assigned gender, is a significant aspect of this development.
• Understanding its trajectory and associations is crucial for adolescent mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the developmental course of gender non-contentedness from early adolescence to young adulthood.
• To investigate the associations between gender non-contentedness and self-concept, behavioral/emotional problems, and adult sexual orientation.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 2772 adolescents (ages 11-26) across six waves.
• Gender non-contentedness assessed using the "I wish to be of the opposite sex" item.
• Self-concept, behavioral/emotional problems, and sexual orientation measured using validated scales and self-report.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of gender non-contentedness was 11% in early adolescence, decreasing to 4% by young adulthood.
• Three trajectories identified: no non-contentedness (78%), decreasing (19%), and increasing (2%).
• Increasing and decreasing trajectories linked to lower self-worth, more problems, and non-heterosexual orientation.

Conclusions:

• Gender non-contentedness generally declines with age during adolescence and young adulthood.
• Persistent or increasing gender non-contentedness is associated with poorer self-concept and mental health.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering gender identity development in adolescent mental health and well-being.