Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1,655 Possible Cases

Аннотация

During the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) complaining of gender dysphoria. One influential if controversial explanation is that the increase reflects a socially contagious syndrome among emotionally vulnerable youth: rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). We report results from a survey of parents who contacted the website ParentsofROGDKids.com because they believed their AYA children had ROGD. Results focused on parent reports on 1,655 AYA children whose gender dysphoria began between ages 11 and 21 years, inclusive. These youths were disproportionately (75%) natal female. Natal males had later onset (by 1.9 years) than females, and they were much less likely to have taken steps towards social gender transition (65.7% for females versus 28.6% for males). Pre-existing mental health issues were common, and youths with these issues were more likely than those without them to have socially and medically transitioned. Parents reported that they had often felt pressured by clinicians to affirm their AYA child’s new gender and support their transition. According to the parents, AYA children’s mental health deteriorated considerably after social transition. We discuss potential biases of survey responses from this sample and conclude that there is presently no reason to believe that reports of parents who support gender transition are more accurate than those who oppose transition. To resolve controversies regarding ROGD, it is desirable that future research include data provided by both pro-transition and anti-transition parents, as well as their gender dysphoric AYA children.

Author's Notes: This is a slightly revised version of a paper that was accepted then retracted at Archives of Sexual Behavior. It was retracted in response to an academic outrage mob offended at its findings, and the journal presented a dubious technicality for retracting it that, as far as we know, has never been applied to any other paper there. JOIBS’ policy is to retract papers only when they meet Committee on Publication Ethics for retraction, which involve data fraud or massive data error. This paper has not even been accused of either data fraud or data error, and JOIBS is delighted to have published it here.