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Behavior Genetics Mar 2018The American Psychological Association defines gender identity as, "A person's deeply-felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man, or a male; a girl, a woman, or a... (Review)
Review
The American Psychological Association defines gender identity as, "A person's deeply-felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man, or a male; a girl, a woman, or a female; or an alternative gender (e.g., genderqueer, gender nonconforming, gender neutral) that may or may not correspond to a person's sex assigned at birth or to a person's primary or secondary sex characteristics" (American Psychological Association, Am Psychol 70(9):832-864, 2015). Here we review the evidence that gender identity and related socially defined gender constructs are influenced in part by innate factors including genes. Based on the data reviewed, we hypothesize that gender identity is a multifactorial complex trait with a heritable polygenic component. We argue that increasing the awareness of the biological diversity underlying gender identity development is relevant to all domains of social, medical, and neuroscience research and foundational for reducing health disparities and promoting human-rights protections for gender minorities.
Topics: Female; Gender Dysphoria; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sexual Behavior; Transgender Persons
PubMed: 29460079
DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9889-z -
International Review of Psychiatry... 2016Some people have a gender which is neither male nor female and may identify as both male and female at one time, as different genders at different times, as no gender at... (Review)
Review
Some people have a gender which is neither male nor female and may identify as both male and female at one time, as different genders at different times, as no gender at all, or dispute the very idea of only two genders. The umbrella terms for such genders are 'genderqueer' or 'non-binary' genders. Such gender identities outside of the binary of female and male are increasingly being recognized in legal, medical and psychological systems and diagnostic classifications in line with the emerging presence and advocacy of these groups of people. Population-based studies show a small percentage--but a sizable proportion in terms of raw numbers--of people who identify as non-binary. While such genders have been extant historically and globally, they remain marginalized, and as such--while not being disorders or pathological in themselves--people with such genders remain at risk of victimization and of minority or marginalization stress as a result of discrimination. This paper therefore reviews the limited literature on this field and considers ways in which (mental) health professionals may assist the people with genderqueer and non-binary gender identities and/or expressions they may see in their practice. Treatment options and associated risks are discussed.
Topics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Gender Identity; Homosexuality, Female; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Sexual Behavior; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism
PubMed: 26753630
DOI: 10.3109/09540261.2015.1106446 -
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Apr 2017In this review, we introduce the topic of transgender medicine, aimed at the non-specialist clinician working in the UK. Appropriate terminology is provided alongside... (Review)
Review
In this review, we introduce the topic of transgender medicine, aimed at the non-specialist clinician working in the UK. Appropriate terminology is provided alongside practical advice on how to appropriately care for transgender people. We offer a brief theoretical discussion on transgenderism and consider how it relates to broader understandings of both gender and disease. In respect to epidemiology, while it is difficult to assess the exact size of the transgender population in the UK, population surveys suggest a prevalence of between 0.2 and 0.6% in adults, with rates of referrals to gender identity clinics in the UK increasing yearly. We outline the legal framework that protects the rights of transgender people, showing that is not legal for physicians to deny transgender people access to services based on their personal beliefs. Being transgender is often, although not always, associated with gender dysphoria, a potentially disabling condition in which the discordance between a person's natal sex (that assigned to them at birth) and gender identity results in distress, with high associated rates of self-harm, suicidality and functional impairment. We show that gender reassignment can be a safe and effective treatment for gender dysphoria with counselling, exogenous hormones and surgery being the mainstay of treatment. The role of the general practitioner in the management of transgender patients is discussed and we consider whether hormone therapy should be initiated in primary care in the absence of specialist advice, as is suggested by recent General Medical Council guidance.
Topics: Female; Gender Dysphoria; Gender Identity; General Practitioners; Humans; Male; Prejudice; Sex Reassignment Procedures; State Medicine; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism; United Kingdom
PubMed: 28382847
DOI: 10.1177/0141076817696054 -
Annual Review of Medicine Jan 2023Increasing numbers of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth, from early puberty through late adolescence, are seeking medical services to bring their physical sex... (Review)
Review
Increasing numbers of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth, from early puberty through late adolescence, are seeking medical services to bring their physical sex characteristics into alignment with their gender identity-their inner sense of self as male or female or elsewhere on the gender spectrum. Numerous studies, primarily of short- and medium-term duration (up to 6 years), demonstrate the clearly beneficial-even lifesaving-mental health impact of gender-affirming medical care in TGD youth. However, there are significant gaps in knowledge and challenges to such care. Long-term safety and efficacy studies are needed to optimize medical care for TGD youth.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adolescent; Transgender Persons; Gender Identity; Mental Health
PubMed: 36260812
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-043021-032007 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2019: Research has consistently reported gender differences in mental health, but studies on differences in psychological well-being between women and men have not yielded...
: Research has consistently reported gender differences in mental health, but studies on differences in psychological well-being between women and men have not yielded conclusive results. The aim of this study was to examine the relevance of gender to the psychological well-being of adult individuals. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 1700 men and 1700 women from the general Spanish population was conducted. Their ages ranged from 21 to 64 years, and they were assessed with Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. : Men scored higher than women in self-acceptance and autonomy, and women scored higher than men in personal growth and positive relations with others. The most relevant variable in the psychological well-being of both women and men was high masculinity. Other relevant variables in women's well-being were high femininity, not having a manual occupation, not being homemakers, and professional occupation. Men´s well-being also was higher in professional men and in men with a skilled non-manual occupation, men with high femininity and men who were not single, divorced or widowed. : Adherence to traditional gender roles is relevant to the psychological well-being of women and men, and women and men whose self-concept includes both masculine-instrumental and feminine-expressive characteristics have greater well-being.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Self Concept; Sex Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 31547223
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193531 -
Anales de Pediatria Apr 2022Some people, including minors, have a gender identity that does not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. They are known as trans* people, which is an umbrella term...
Some people, including minors, have a gender identity that does not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. They are known as trans* people, which is an umbrella term that encompasses transgender, transsexual, and other identities not conforming to the assigned gender. Healthcare units for trans* minors require multidisciplinary working, undertaken by personnel expert in gender identity, enabling, when requested, interventions for the minor and their social-familial environment, in an individualized and flexible way during the gender affirmation path. This service model also includes hormonal treatments tailored as much as possible to the individual's needs, beyond the dichotomic goals of a traditional binary model. This guide addresses the general aspects of professional care of trans* minors and presents the current evidence-based protocol of hormonal treatments for trans* and non-binary adolescents. In addition, it details key aspects related to expected body changes and their possible side effects, as well as prior counselling about fertility preservation.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Gender Dysphoria; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Minors; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism
PubMed: 35534418
DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2022.02.002 -
Clinical Psychology Review Aug 2020Gender dysphoria is distress due to a discrepancy between one's assigned gender and gender identity. Adults who wish to access gender clinics are assessed to ensure they... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Gender dysphoria is distress due to a discrepancy between one's assigned gender and gender identity. Adults who wish to access gender clinics are assessed to ensure they meet the diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria. Therefore, the definition of gender dysphoria has a significant impact on the lives of individuals who wish to undergo physical gender transition. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize all existing qualitative research literature about the lived experience of gender dysphoria in adults. A pre-planned systematic search identified 1491 papers, with 20 of those meeting full inclusion criteria, and a quality assessment of each paper was conducted. Data pertaining to the lived experience of gender dysphoria were extracted from each paper and a meta-ethnographic synthesis was conducted. Four overarching concepts were identified; distress due to dissonance of assigned and experienced gender; interface of assigned gender, gender identity and society; social consequences of gender identity; internal processing of rejection, and transphobia. A key finding was the reciprocal relationship between an individual's feelings about their gender and societal responses to transgender people. Other subthemes contributing to distress were misgendering, mismatch between gender identity and societal expectations, and hypervigilance for transphobia.
Topics: Adult; Female; Gender Dysphoria; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Qualitative Research; Transgender Persons
PubMed: 32629301
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101875 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Sep 2022
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Gender Identity; Hormones; Humans; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism
PubMed: 35678284
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac356 -
Pediatrics Mar 2016Transgender children who have socially transitioned, that is, who identify as the gender "opposite" their natal sex and are supported to live openly as that gender, are...
OBJECTIVE
Transgender children who have socially transitioned, that is, who identify as the gender "opposite" their natal sex and are supported to live openly as that gender, are increasingly visible in society, yet we know nothing about their mental health. Previous work with children with gender identity disorder (GID; now termed gender dysphoria) has found remarkably high rates of anxiety and depression in these children. Here we examine, for the first time, mental health in a sample of socially transitioned transgender children.
METHODS
A community-based national sample of transgender, prepubescent children (n = 73, aged 3-12 years), along with control groups of nontransgender children in the same age range (n = 73 age- and gender-matched community controls; n = 49 sibling of transgender participants), were recruited as part of the TransYouth Project. Parents completed anxiety and depression measures.
RESULTS
Transgender children showed no elevations in depression and slightly elevated anxiety relative to population averages. They did not differ from the control groups on depression symptoms and had only marginally higher anxiety symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
Socially transitioned transgender children who are supported in their gender identity have developmentally normative levels of depression and only minimal elevations in anxiety, suggesting that psychopathology is not inevitable within this group. Especially striking is the comparison with reports of children with GID; socially transitioned transgender children have notably lower rates of internalizing psychopathology than previously reported among children with GID living as their natal sex.
Topics: Anxiety; Child; Child, Preschool; Depression; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mental Health; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism; Washington
PubMed: 26921285
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-3223 -
Bulletin of the World Health... Jan 2022
Topics: Gender Identity; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Leadership
PubMed: 35017749
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.21.287528