Gender Dysphoria in looked-after and adopted young people in a gender identity development service

Gender Dysphoria in looked-after and adopted young people in a gender identity development service

Tom Matthews, Victoria Holt, Senem Sahin, Amelia Taylor, David Griksaitis · Clinical child psychology and psychiatry

Researchers reviewed case files for 185 young people referred to a UK gender identity service in 2009–2011. Adopted young people accounted for 3.8% of referrals and looked-after young people for 4.9%. The study compared clinical presentation and service pathways between groups. Adopted and looked-after young people did not show greater overall functional impairment than other young people referred to the service.

Limitations: A historical specialist referral sample cannot establish the prevalence of gender dysphoria among adoptees, or show that adoption caused gender-related experiences. There were few adopted and looked-after participants. Findings about looked-after young people should not automatically be attributed to adopted young people. The research examined referrals within a specialist UK gender identity development service. This clinical service setting should be considered when interpreting findings; it is not an adoption-sector organisation.

Research type

Clinical records study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Adolescents