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Gender-related distress will alleviate for around 80% of pre-teen children once they become teenagers. Expand
Gender-related distress will alleviate for around 80% of pre-teen children once they become teenagers.
Evidence from 10 available prospective follow-up studies [1] from childhood to adolescence indicates that childhood gender dysphoria will recede with puberty in ~80% of cases. A Dutch paper [2] notes that follow-up studies show the persistence rate of gender identity disorder to be about 15.8%, or 39 out of the 246 children who were reported on in the literature.
In one study [3] of 54 children referred to a clinic in childhood because of gender dysphoria and then later investigated by a follow-up study, only 21 (39%) still had gender dysphoria.
A different study [4] of Canadian boys with gender identity disorder showed that 87.8% desisted, with only 12.2% — fewer than 1 in 8 — persisting in their transgender identity.
An ~80% desistance is not universally found [5]. Thorough investigations of the claims and counter-claims appear in two 2018 studies [6, 7].
REFERENCES
[1] Kaltiala-Heino, R., Bergman, H., Työläjärvi, M., & Frisén, L. (2018). Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics 9, 31–41. [Link]
[2] Steensma, T.D. & Cohen-Kettenis, P.T. (2011). Gender Transitioning before Puberty? Archives of Sexual Behavior 40 (4): 649-50. [Link]
[3] Wallien, M.S. & Cohen-Kettenis P.T. (2008) Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 47 (12): 1413-23. [Link]
[4] Singh, D., Bradley, S.J. & Zucker, K.J. (2021). A Follow-Up Study of Boys With Gender Identity Disorder. Frontiers in Psychology 12. [Link]
[5] Temple Newhook, J., Pyne, J., Winters, K., Feder, S., Holmes, C., Tosh, J., Sinnott, M., Jamieson, A., & Picket, S. (2018). A critical commentary on follow-up studies and “desistance” theories about transgender and gender non-conforming children. International Journal of Transgenderism 19 (2). [Link]
[6] Steensma, T.D. & Cohen-Kettenis, P.T. (2018). A critical commentary on “A critical commentary on follow-up studies and “desistence” theories about transgender and gender non-conforming children”. International Journal of Transgenderism. [Link]
[7] Zucker, K. J. (2018). The myth of persistence. International Journal of Transgenderism 19 (2): 231-45. [Link]
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Young people who desist from a trans identity are disproportionately likely to grow up to be non-heterosexual. Expand
Young people who desist from a trans identity are disproportionately likely to grow up to be non-heterosexual.
A Dutch paper [1] notes that, for gender dysphoric children, the more likely psychosexual outcome in adulthood is a homosexual sexual orientation without gender dysphoria.
Evidence [2] suggests that many boys whose childhood gender dysphoria recedes with puberty will grow up to be bisexual or homosexual. Another study of males [3] indicates that bisexual/homosexual orientation is far greater than base rates in the general male population, with 63.6% of boys with gender identity disorder being same-sex attracted.
This suggests that a non-heterosexual orientation is particularly likely among gender dysphoric boys.
REFERENCES
[1] Wallien, M.S. & Cohen-Kettenis P.T. (2008) Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 47 (12): 1413-23. [Link]
[2] Kaltiala-Heino, R., Bergman, H., Työläjärvi, M., & Frisén, L. (2018). Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics 9, 31–41. [Link]
[3] Singh, D. (2012). A follow-up study of boys with gender identity disorder. Doctoral thesis, University of Toronto. [Link]
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In one peer-reviewed study of 100 detransitioners, 76% did not inform their clinicians that they had detransitioned. Expand
In one peer-reviewed study of 100 detransitioners, 76% did not inform their clinicians that they had detransitioned.
The majority (55%) felt they did not receive an adequate evaluation from a doctor or mental health professional before starting their transition. [1]
38% believed that their gender dysphoria was caused by something specific such as trauma, abuse, or a mental health condition. [1]
REFERENCES
[1] Littman L. (2021). Individuals Treated for Gender Dysphoria with Medical and/or Surgical Transition Who Subsequently Detransitioned: A Survey of 100 Detransitioners. Archives of sexual behavior, 50(8), 3353–3369. [Link]