Psychometric validation of the Polish version of the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum questionnaire

Accessible and inclusive tools for assessing gender dysphoria in Polish-speaking populations remain limited. To bridge this gap in care, there is an urgent need for accessible, psychometrically sound tools to assess Polish gender-diverse individuals. In this study, we aimed to adapt the Polish version of the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum to address a critical gap in assessment tools that include nonbinary, binary transgender, and cisgender individuals.

In Study 1 (N = 1,057), the 18-item UGDS-GS was translated into Polish using a backward translation procedure. Its factorial structure, internal consistency, and construct validity were examined in an online sample of Polish adults, including binary transgender, nonbinary, and cisgender participants recruited via social media and the Prolific platform between July and August 2025. Participants completed the UGDS-GS along with measures of anxiety, depression, and gender dysphoria. In Study 2, an independent sample of Polish adults (N = 245 at T1) recruited via Prolific completed the UGDS-GS-PL. Additional confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, and stability over time was assessed using a three-week test-retest design.

Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original two-factor structure. Exploratory factor analysis instead identified a three-factor solution (Gender dysphoria, Puberty-related distress, Gender affirmation) which was subsequently confirmed in an independent sample using confirmatory factor analysis. We found that the scale's two distress-related dimensions capture relatively stable individual differences across the full gender spectrum. Moreover, the scale demonstrated good internal consistency and good measurement stability. ROC analyses demonstrated excellent screening accuracy for the Gender dysphoria subscale (AUC = .97), good accuracy for Puberty-related distress (AUC = .81), and limited accuracy for Gender affirmation (AUC = .62).

The scale provides a valuable alternative to existing binary-focused instruments and demonstrates that gender-neutral assessment of gender dysphoria is both feasible and psychologically viable in the Polish language.