Reconsidering tools for measuring gender dimensions in biomedical research.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical research
• Social sciences
• Gerontology

Background:

• Sex and gender are crucial yet often overlooked factors influencing health outcomes.
• Incorporating complex gender dimensions into quantitative biomedical research presents challenges.
• Gender scores offer a method to quantify gender dimensions using survey data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the reliability and application complexities of gender scores in biomedical research.
• To analyze longitudinal gender score data using the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scale.
• To explore gender differences in adverse events to the influenza vaccine among older adults (75+).

Main Methods:

• Utilized longitudinal data from the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scale over three influenza seasons (2019-2022).
• Analyzed gender score data from 162 older adult participants (75+).
• Focused on the reliability of gender scores irrespective of adverse event data.

Main Results:

• The majority of participants exhibited different gender scores across the study years, indicating gender fluidity.
• A significant portion of participants (69/162) were enrolled for all three seasons, with 35 enrolled for two.
• Findings underscore the dynamic nature of gender identity as measured by the BSRI.

Conclusions:

• Gender scores, such as the BSRI, demonstrate nuances and fluidity in gender identity over time.
• Interpretations of gender score data must be time- and context-specific for accurate biomedical research.
• Results from gender score analyses are unlikely to be consistently replicated across different years.