Rise of gender identity disorders among children and adolescents- data from 10 countries
pdf

Keywords

epidemiology of gender dysphoria
gender dysphoria
gender identity disorders
parents
youth

How to Cite

Marianowicz-Szczygiel, A. (2022). Rise of gender identity disorders among children and adolescents- data from 10 countries. Quarterly Journal Fides Et Ratio, 49(1), 122-141. https://doi.org/10.34766/fetr.v49i1.1060
Keywords

Abstract

There is growing number of publications pointing to the global trend of a significant increase in people who identify differently to their biological sex. Children and adolescents are a particularly sensitive group here, as their identity is still under development. These trends are also reaching Poland. Parents and state services involved in the upbringing and education may be surprised and unprepared. There is small number of analyzes of these trends, especially in the context of the already available knowledge about gender identity disorders and further practical recommendations. The first part of the article presents epidemiological data illustrating the occurrence of gender identity disorders in the population. The methodological challenge was to define a reliable criterion illustrating the strength and scope of the observed changes in epidemiology among children and adolescents and at the same time enabling international comparisons of data from autonomous and world-wide clinics as the problem is the data availability at all. The article presents data on the explosion of gender identity disorders in children and adolescents based on the criterion of number of referrals to youth clinics from 8 countries: Sweden - an increase of 19,700%, Italy - 7,200%, Great Britain - 2,457%, the Netherlands - 904% and outside Europe: Australia - 12,650%, Canada - 538%, USA - 275%, and New Zealand - 187% (the article gives the exact time range). This data were also subjected to qualitative analysis (gender and age of reports, number of referrals versus diagnoses). The explanations given in the scientific literature were also collected and analyzed in relation to the available knowledge about the genesis of gender dysphoria, which, according to research, is predominantly of environmental origin. Both the scale of the trend and additional qualitative analyzes (change of the clinical picture and the inflow to clinics, especially of teenage girls), indicate that this trend cannot be explained only by an increase in social awareness, but also by the inducing influence of media and culture (additional studies that support these conclusions are mentioned). The article provides an overview of the available knowledge in the field of the epidemiology of gender identity disorders, especially in children and adolescents, and helps to define practical steps, especially in the neglected area of ​​prevention, which is crucial from the point of view of parents.

https://doi.org/10.34766/fetr.v49i1.1060
pdf

References

Bibliografia została dołączona do tekstu artykułu, ale powtórzono ją poniżej.

Bibliografia
Affde ( 22-07-2021). Statystyki demograficzne Facebooka: Ile osób korzysta z Facebooka w 2021 roku? https://www.affde.com/pl/facebook-users.html (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Aitken, M., Steensma ,T.D., Blanchard, R., Vanderlaan, D.P.,Wood, H., Fuentes, A., Spegg, C., Wasserman, L. i in. (2015). Evidence for an Altered Sex Ratio in Clinic-Referred Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria, Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12 (3), 756-763. DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12817.
American College of Pediatricians (2017). Gender Ideology Harms Children. https://acpeds.org/assets/imported/9.14.17-Gender-Ideology-Harms-Children_updated-MC.pdf (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Arcelus, J., Bouman, W.P, Van den Noortgate, W., Claes, L., Witcomb, G.L., Fernandez-Aranda, F. (2015). Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Studies in Transsexualism, European Psychiatry, 30(6), 807-815. DOI:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.005
ARIF - Aggressive Research Intelligence Facitility (2004). Using evidence to support health care decision making. University of Birmingham. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-mds/haps/projects/ARIF/completed-requests.pdf (dostęp: 21-10-2020).
Arnoldussen,M., Steensma, T.D., Popma, A., van der Miesen, A. I. R., Twisk, J.W. R., de Vries, A. L. C. (2020). Re-evaluation of the Dutch approach: are recently referred transgender youth different compared to earlier referrals? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 29, 803–811. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-019-01394-6
Beisert, M., Witkoś, M. (26-07-2018). Niepewność wobec własnej tożsamości płciowej w okresie dorastania, Psychologia w praktyce, nr 10. https://psychologiawpraktyce.pl/artykul/niepewnosc-wobec-wlasnej-tozsamosci-plciowej-w-okresie-dorastania (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Bayswatersupport (nd). How We Could Reform ‘Traansition to Adulthood’ care in the NHS https://bayswatersupport.org.uk/transitioning-to-adulthood/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Canadian Gender Report (12-12-2020). The Swedish U-Turn on Gender Transitioning for Children.
https://genderreport.ca/the-swedish-u-turn-on-gender-transitioning/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Chen, B., Jin, H., Yang, Z., Qu, Y., Weng H., & Hao T. (2019). An approach for transgender population information extraction and summarization from clinical trial text, BMC Med Inform Decision Making 19, 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0768-1
Cheung, A.S., Ooi, O. Leemaqz, S., Cundill, P., Silberstein, N., Bretherton, I., Thrower, E., Locke, P., Grossmann, M., Zajac J.D. (2018). Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Transgender Adults in Australia, Transgender Health, vol. 3.1, 220-238. DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2018.0019
Christian Institute (7-11-2018). Travistock trans centre accused of ‘fast-tracking’ kids. https://www.christian.org.uk/news/tavistock-trans-centre-accused-fast-tracking-kids-senior-medic/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Clarke, A.C., Spiliadis A. (2019). ‘Taking the lid off the box’: The value of extended clinical assessment for adolescents presenting with gender identity difficulties, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry , vol. 24(2), 338–352. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359104518825288
Cysarz, D. (2021). Inne zaburzenia identyfikacji płciowej, (w:) M. Lew-Starowicz, Z. Lew-Starowicz, W. Skrzypulec - Plinta (red.), Seksuologia, 299-309,Warszawa: PZWL.
Delahunt, J., Denison, H., Sim, D., Bullock, J.J., Krebsi, J. (2018). Increasing rates of people identifying as transgender presenting to Endocrine Services in the Wellington region, The New Zealand Medical Journal, vol.131,1438, 33-42. (No DOI) https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Increasing-rates-of-people-identifying-as-to-in-the-Delahunt-Denison/9d899d3f7d82340c8b1726cec21562e6e5ee6a1c (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Dora, M., Grabski, B., Dobroczyński B. (2020). Dysforia płciowa i nonkonformizm płciowy w adolescencji - zmiany i wyzwania diagnostyczne, Psychiatria Polska, 162, 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/113009

Estheticon (n.d.). Zmiana płci, cena. https://www.estheticon.pl/cenniki/operacje-transseksualistow
European Parliament (21-03-2017). Pytanie nr E-001877-17 zadane przez Marie-Christine Arnautu (ENF), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-8-2017-001877_EN.html (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Fisher, A.D. (11-13- 04 - 2019). Transgender Health Care in Europe: Italy [Prezentacja konferencyjna]. EPATH 3rd Conference Inside Matters. 11-13 kwietnia 2019, Rzym, Włochy.
https://epath.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/EPATH2019-Transgender-Health-Care-in-Italy.pdf
Ze strony: https://epath.eu/past-conferences/conference-2019/program-overview/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Friesen, L., Söder, O., Rydelius, P. (23-02-2017). Kraftig ökning av könsdysfori bland barn och unga, Läkartidningen, vol. 114, 1-5. https://lakartidningen.se/klinik-och-vetenskap-1/artiklar-1/klinisk-oversikt/2017/02/kraftig-okning-av-konsdysfori-bland-barn-och-unga/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Garcia, D., Kappas A., Küster,D., Schweitzer F. (01-08-2016).The dynamics of emotions in online interaction, The Royal Society Open Access, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160059 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.160059 (dostęp 10-01-2021).
Georgas, K., Beckman, U., Bryman, I., Elander, A., Jivegård, L., Mattelin, E., Olsen Ekerhult, T., Persson, J., Sandman, L., Selvaggi, G., Stadig, I., Vikberg Adania, U., Strandell, A. (2018). Gender affirmation surgery for gender dysphoria-effects and risks. [Könskonfirmerande kirurgi vid könsdysfori - effekter och risker]. Göteborg: Västra Götalandsregionen, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, HTA-centrum. https://segm.org/Sweden_ends_use_of_Dutch_protocol (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
GIDS (2021). Number of referrals. https://gids.nhs.uk/number-referrals (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Godlewski J. (1988). Transsexualism and anatomic sex ratio reversal in Poland, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Dec;17(6), 547-548. DOI: 10.1007/bf01542342

de Graaf, N.,M., Cohen-Kettenis, P.,T., Carmichael, P., Carmichael, P., de Vries A.L.C., Dhondt K., Laridaen, J., Dagmar Pauli D., Ball, J., Steensma, T.,D. (18-12- 2017 on-line, druk 2018). Psychological functioning in adolescents referred to specialist gender identity clinics across Europe: a clinical comparison study between four clinics, European Child &Adolescent Psychiatry 27, 909–919. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1098-4

de Graaf, N.M., Carmichael, P., Steensma,T.D., Zucker K.J., (2018). Evidence for a Change in the Sex Ratio of Children Referred for Gender Dysphoria: Data From the Gender Identity Development Service in London (2000–2017), Journal of Sexual Medicine 15 (10), 1381-1384. DOI:10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.08.002
de Graaf, N.M., Carmichael, P. (2019). Reflections on emerging trends in clinical work with gender diverse children and adolescents, Clin Child Psych Psychiatry, Apr, 24(2), 353-364. doi: 10.1177/1359104518812924.
Hancock J., (4-10-2018). Childhood demand for gender transition treatment surges to record high, ABC News Breakfast, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-20/childhood-demand-for-biological-sex-change-surges-to-record/10240480?nw=0
Handler, T., Hojilla, J.C.,Varghese, R., Wellenstein, W., Satre, D.D., Zaritsky E. (2019). Trends in Referrals to a Pediatric Transgender Clinic, Pediatrics, 144 (5) e20191368; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-1368
Haupt,C., Henke,M., Kutschmar A., Hauser,B., Baldinger, S., Saenz, S.R., Schreiber, G. (28-11-2020). Antiandrogen or estradiol treatment or both during hormone therapy in transitioning transgender women, Cochrane Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013138.pub2
Human Rights Campaign (n.d.). Interactive Map: Clinical Care Programs for Gender-Expansive Children and Adolescents. https://www.hrc.org/resources/interactive-map-clinical-care-programs-for-gender-nonconforming-childr (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Hutchinson, A., Midgen, M., Spiliadis A. (9-07-2019). In Support of Research Into Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria, Archives of Sexual Behavior 49 (1),79-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01517-9
Instytut „Ona i On” (2020). Infografiki: 235 orientacji płciowych i seksualnych. http://onaion.org.pl/gender-infografiki/ ; ze strony: http://onaion.org.pl/infografiki/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Johnston, E. (27-06-2019). Canadian Family Files A Human Rights Complaint After “Gender Theory” Taught In School Confused And Upset Their 6-Year-Old Girl. https://elizabethjohnston.org/canadian-family-files-a-human-rights-complaint-after-gender-theory-taught-in-school-confused-and-upset-their-6-year-old-girl/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Jones, B. (10-07-2019). The staggering costs of being transgender in the US, where even patients with health insurance can face six-figure bills, Bussiness Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/transgender-medical-care-surgery-expensive-2019-6?IR=T (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Kaltiala, R., Bergman, H., Carmichael, P., de Graaf, N.M., Rischel, K.E., Frisén, L., Schorkopf, M., Suomalainen, L., Waehre, A. (2020). Time trends in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services: a study in four Nordic countries and in the UK, Nord J Psychiatry, Jan;74(1), 40-44. DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1667429
Lane, M., Ives, G.C., Sluiter, E.,C., Waljee, J.F., Yao, T.-H., Hu, H.M., Kuzon, W.N. (04-2018) Trends in Gender-affirming Surgery in Insured Patients in the United States, PRS Global Open, vol. 6 (4) DOI:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001738, https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2018/04000/trends_in_gender_affirming_surgery_in_insured.10.aspx (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Lavoipierre, A. (1-03-2018). The hidden $100,000 price tag on being transgender, ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-02/the-hidden-$100,000-price-tag-on-being-transgender/9498918 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Linander, I. (11-2018) . "It was like I had to fit into a category" People with trans experiences navigating access to trans-specific healthcare and health”. Health and healthcare experiences among transgender people. [Praca doktorska. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå Centre for Gender Studies, Graduate School for Gender Studies, Umeå University, Umeå]. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.31860.81289 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330310576_It_was_like_I_had_to_fit_into_a_category_People_with_trans_experiences_navigating_access_to_trans-specific_healthcare_and_health
Littman, L. (16-04-2018). Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria, Plos One 14(3):e0202330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202330 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Littman, L. (2019). Correction: Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria, PLOS ONE 14(3): e0214157. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214157
Marianowicz-Szczygieł, A. (2020). Dlaczego na świecie wzrasta liczba osób LGBT? Instytut „Ona i On”. http://onaion.org.pl/raport-dlaczego-na-swiecie-wzrasta-liczba-osob-lgbt/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Marianowicz-Szczygieł, A. (2021). Zaburzenia tożsamości płciowej u dzieci i młodzieży – ujęcie psychologiczne. Geneza, czynniki ryzyka, rokowania, profilaktyka, (w:) B. Kmieciak (red.), Między chromosomem a paragrafem. Transseksualizm w ujęciu prawnym, społecznym i medycznym, 93-142. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Instytutu Wymiaru Sprawiedliwości.

Michael, A., Mormont, C., Legros, J.J. (11-2001). A Psycho-Endocrinological Overview of Transsexualism, European Journal of Endocrinology, 145(4), 365-76. DOI:10.1530/eje.0.1450365

Monostra, M. (20-07-2021). Gender care for minors requires teamwork, centers on family, Healio/Pediatric Endocrinology. https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20210719/gender-care-for-minors-requires-teamwork-centers-on-family (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

The National Board of Health and Welfare (2017). Utvecklingen av diagnosen könsdysfori i Sverige [The development of the diagnosis of gender dysphoria in Sweden]. https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/globalassets/sharepoint-dokument/artikelkatalog/ovrigt/2020-2-6600.pdf (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Pang, K.C., de Graaf, N.M., Chew, D., Hoq, M., Keith, D.R., Carmichael, P., Steensma, T.D. (2020). Association of Media Coverage of Transgender and Gender Diverse Issues With Rates of Referral of Transgender Children and Adolescents to Specialist Gender Clinics in the UK and Australia, JAMA Network Open, 3(7):e2011161. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.11161 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2768726 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Polderman, T.J.C. Kreukels, B.P.C., Irwig, M., Beach, L., Chan, Y.-M., Derks, E.,M., Esteva, I., Ehrenfeld, J., Heijer, Posthuma., D., Raynor, L., Tishelman, A., Davis, L.K. (2018). International Gender Diversity Genomics Consortium, The Biological Contributions to Gender Identity and Gender Diversity: Bringing Data to the Table, Behavior Genetics 48, s.95–108. g Data to the Table, Behavior Genetics, 48(2), 95-108.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-018-9889-z

Rachlevičius, V. (18-10-2021), Vidas Rachlevičius. Lyčiai jautri kalba, Laikmetis. https://www.laikmetis.lt/vidas-rachlevicius-lyciai-jautri-kalba/?fbclid=IwAR1E9tjbsevpWuGG-9ToCiGMHzAOc1AHMEaqZ6dGnoeWp1FxWD2IPshVrHg (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Research, D. (20-02-2017). Americans are twice as likely as Europeans to identify as LGBTQ, Medium.com. https://medium.com/@DaliaResearch/americans-are-twice-as-likely-as-europeans-to-identify-as-lgbtq-44153d4b46c6 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Robacha, A. (2021). Transseksualizm, (w:) M. Lew-Starowicz, Z. Lew-Starowicz, W. Skrzypulec - Plinta (red.), Seksuologia, 287-298, Warszawa: PZWL.
Le Roux, N. (2013). Gender variance in childhood/adolescence: gender identity journeys not involving physical intervention. [Prof Doc Thesis, University of East London School of Psychology]. https://doi.org/10.15123/PUB.3493 https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/85vvw (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Rowniak, S., Bolt, L., Sharifi, C. (2019). The effect of cross-sex hormones on the quality of life, depression and anxiety of transgender individuals: a quantitative systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 17(9),1. DOI:10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003869
SBU (12-2019). Gender dysphoria in children and adolescents: an inventory of the literature. Raport 307E (www.sbu.se/307e). https://www.sbu.se/contentassets/bfd7263c06da44ca9168bf1df8a1c7e0/eng_gender-dysphoria-in-children-and-adolescents--an-inventory-of-the-literature.pdf z, ze strony: https://www.sbu.se/en/publications/sbu-bereder/gender-dysphoria-in-children-and-adolescents-an-inventory-of-the-literature/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Solidarni2010 (19-06-2021). Odważna Kurator Barbara Nowak znów stała się obiektem hejtu. Solidarni 2010. http://solidarni2010.pl/40880-odwazna-kurator-barbara-nowak-znow-stala-sie-obiektem-hejtu.html?PHPSESSID=e7fa31a1d6602e16eb1c7b6fe668cea0 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Sparkes M., (14-02-2014). Facebook sex changes: which one of 50 genders are you? The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/10637968/Facebook-sex-changes-which-one-of-50-genders-are-you.html (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Steensma, T.D., Boer, F., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., (2011), Desisting and persisting gender dysphoria after childhood: A qualitative follow-up study, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 16 (4), 499-516. DOI: 10.1177/1359104510378303
Steensma, T.D., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Zucker, K.J. (2018). Evidence for a change in the sex ratio of children referred for gender dysphoria: Data from the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria in Amsterdam (1988-2016), Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44, 713-715.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0092623X.2018.1437580?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=usmt20 (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Szymczyk, L. (2013) Relacje w rodzinie a rozwój tożsamości i identyfikacji płciowej dziecka w wieku przedszkolnym, Fides et Ratio, vol.3, 85-97. http://www.stowarzyszeniefidesetratio.pl/Presentations0/07Szymczyk.pdf (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Travistock and Portman NHS (n.d.). Gender Identity Development Service statistics. https://tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/documents/408/gids-service-statistics.pdf (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

UNESCO (2018). International technical guidance on sexuality education. An evidence-informed approach.Geneva. Ze strony: UN urges Comprehensive Approach to Sexuality Education. https://en.unesco.org/news/urges-comprehensive-approach-sexuality-education (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
deVries, A.L.C. (2020). Challenges in Timing Puberty Suppression for Gender-Nonconforming Adolescents, Pediatrics, 146 (4) e2020010611; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-010611 https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/146/4/e2020010611/79688/Challenges-in-Timing-Puberty-Suppression-for (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Weppresent (n.d.), Dorian Ulises López Macías Mexico is exciting and noisy, beautiful and rich. https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/story/dorian-ulises-lopez-macias/ (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Wieczorek, B. (2018). Homoseksualizm. Przegląd światowych analiz i badań. Przyczyny, objawy, terapia, aspekty społeczne. Warszawa: Fronda.
Wiliams, R. (27-06-2014). Facebook's 71 gender options come to UK users, The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/10930654/Facebooks-71-gender-options-come-to-UK-users.html (dostęp: 10-01-2022).
Zucker, K. J. (2008). Children with gender identity disorder: Is there a best practice?, Neuropsychiatrie de l’enfance de l’adolescence, 56 (6), 358-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurenf.2008.06.003 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0222961708001219

Zucker, K. J. (2017). Epidemiology of gender dysphoria and transgender identity, Sexual Health 14, 404-411. doi:10.1071/sh17067

Zucker, K.J. (2019). Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Reflections on Some Contemporary Clinical and Research Issues, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(5). doi:10.1007/s10508-019-01518-8 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334552874_Adolescents_with_Gender_Dysphoria_Reflections_on_Some_Contemporary_Clinical_and_Research_Issues (dostęp: 10-01-2022).

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.