Category: Social influence
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Challenges reported by detransitioners include social and emotional difficulties, lack of support, negative healthcare experiences, “detransphobia”, and identity concerns
In a systematic review and metasummary of qualitative data up to April 2023, Expósito-Campos et al.1 analyzed the experiences of 2,689 individuals who detransitioned. From 845 records, 15 studies were included, yielding 34 significant meta-findings derived from data present in at least 15% of the cases. The study identified two primary themes: “Gender Transition,” encompassing perspectives and emotions, and “Gender Detransition,” covering driving factors and challenges such as social and emotional difficulties, lack of support and understanding, negative healthcare interactions, “detransphobia” (defined as stigma, loss of previous supports, and prejudices around detransition), and identity concerns. The study also explored the needs, growth, evolution, and identity exploration of detransitioners. These findings highlight the necessity for psychotherapeutic approaches that address the complex social, emotional, and identity-related needs of detransitioners, advocating for comprehensive support mechanisms within healthcare frameworks.
- Expósito-Campos, P., Pérez-Fernández, J. I., & Salaberria, K. (2024). A qualitative metasummary of detransition experiences with recommendations for psychological support. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(2), 100467. [Link] ↩︎
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Social transition solidifies a transgender identity
A study1 of 317 trans-identifying youth found an average of five years after their initial social transition, 94% continued to identify as binary transgender, while 3.5% identified as non-binary.
In a 2022 longitudinal study by Olson et al., 317 trans-identifying youth were followed for an average of five years after their initial social transitions (mean age at start of study = 8.1 years). The findings showed that five years post-social transition, 94% of youth continued to identify as binary transgender, 3.5% identified as nonbinary, and 2.5% identified as cisgender. Avoiding the use of the DSM-5 criteria for gender dysphoria due to ethical concerns from parents, the study classified gender identities using initial visit data, which displayed signs of gender identification and preferences, along with parent-reported “cross-sex” preferences. The final identity was then established based on the most recent interaction with the youth or their parents before January 1, 2021.
- Olson, K. R., Durwood, L., Horton, R., Gallagher, N. M., & Devor, A. (2022). Gender identity five years after social transition. Pediatrics, 150(2). [Link] ↩︎
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In one study of detransitioners, around half originally believed that transition would lead them to be “treated better” if they were “perceived as the target gender”
In a study1 of 100 detransitioners, 50.7% of females and 45.2% of males identified with the comment “I felt I would be treated better if I was perceived as the target gender”.
- Littman, L. (2021). Individuals Treated for Gender Dysphoria with Medical and/or Surgical Transition Who Subsequently Detransitioned: A Survey of 100 Detransitioners. Arch Sex Behav. [Link] ↩︎
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One study found that, in almost two-thirds of cases, internet and social media usage seemed to go up just before a young person came out as trans
Lisa Littman’s 2018 study1 found that 63.5% of adolescents and young adults who came out as trans seemed to exhibit an increase in their internet and social media usage before coming out.
- Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13 (8). [Link] ↩︎
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One study showed that, in 36.8% of trans-identifying young people’s friendship groups, the majority of members identified as trans
Lisa Littman’s 2018 study1 investigated the role of friendship groups in transgender identification, and found that the majority of the members in the friendship group became transgender-identified in 36.8% of cases – almost 2 in 5.
- Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13 (8). [Link] ↩︎
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In one study, two thirds of trans-identifying young people had one or more friends who were also trans
Lisa Littman’s 2018 study1 found that 66.8% of adolescents and young adults who identified as trans belonged to a friend group where at least one other person became gender dysphoric and came out as transgender.
- Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13 (8). [Link] ↩︎
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In one study, almost 9 in 10 young people questioning their gender seemed to be subject to social influence
86.7% of the young people in Lisa Littman’s 2018 study1 belonged to a friend group where one or more friends came out as trans at the same time, and/or had an increase in their use of social media.
Social contagion – the involuntary “catching” of behaviors and attitudes across connected individuals2 – is a well-accepted phenomenon in psychological literature3. It is well-documented that adolescents — and females in particular — are prone to social contagion effects, from cutting4 to eating disorders5. Social network analyses suggest that peer contagion underlies the influence of friendship on obesity, unhealthy body images, and expectations6.
- Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports. PLOS ONE, 13 (8). [Link] ↩︎
- Levy, D. A., & Nail, P. R. (1993). Contagion: A theoretical and empirical review and reconceptualization. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs 119 (2): 233-284. [Link] ↩︎
- Burgess, L.G., Riddell, P.M., Fancourt, A. & Murayama, K. (2018). The Influence of Social Contagion Within Education: A Motivational Perspective. Mind, Brain, and Education 12: 164-174. [Link] ↩︎
- Hermansson-Webb, E. B. (2014). ‘With Friends Like These…’: The Social Contagion of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Amongst Adolescent Females. Thesis, Doctor of Philosophy: University of Otago. [Link] ↩︎
- Allison, S., Warin, M. & Bastiampillai, T. (2013). Anorexia nervosa and social contagion: Clinical implications. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 48 (2): 116-120. [Link] ↩︎
- Dishion, T. J., & Tipsord, J. M. (2011). Peer contagion in child and adolescent social and emotional development. Annual review of psychology 62: 189–214. [Link] ↩︎