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The Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults: Further Validity Evidence

2010; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 47; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00224490902898728

1559-8519

Devita Singh, Joseph J. Deogracias, Laurel L. Johnson, Susan J. Bradley, Sarah J. Kibblewhite, Allison Owen-Anderson, Michele Peterson‐Badali, Heino F. L. Meyer‐Bahlburg, Kenneth J. Zucker,

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Abstract This study aimed to provide further validity evidence for the dimensional measurement of gender identity and gender dysphoria in both adolescents and adults. Adolescents and adults with gender identity disorder (GID) were compared to clinical control (CC) adolescents and adults on the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults (GIDYQ–AA), a 27-item scale originally developed by Deogracias et al. (Citation2007). In Study 1, adolescents with GID (n = 44) were compared to CC adolescents (n = 98); and in Study 2, adults with GID (n = 41) were compared to CC adults (n = 94). In both studies, clients with GID self-reported significantly more gender dysphoria than did the CCs, with excellent sensitivity and specificity rates. In both studies, degree of self-reported gender dysphoria was significantly correlated with recall of cross-gender behavior in childhood—a test of convergent validity. The research and clinical utility of the GIDYQ–AA is discussed, including directions for further research in distinct clinical populations. Acknowledgments This article was based, in part, on a master's thesis by Devita Singh at the Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. This study was supported by funds provided by the North American Task Force on Intersexuality (NATFI). We thank Ian A. Aaronson, Chairman of NATFI, for his support of this research, and Suzanne J. Kessler and Justine M. Schober for their assistance in item development. We also thank Robert Dickey, Head of the Adult Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Maxine Petersen for their support. Notes 1We explored two other methods to classify the sexual orientation of the adolescents with gender identity disorder (GID) by using their responses on two questionnaires: the Erotic Response and Orientation Scale (EROS; Storms, Citation1980), a measure of sexual orientation in fantasy, and a modified version of the Sexual History Questionnaire (SHQ; Langevin, Citation1985), a measure of sexual orientation in behavior. In both instances, if the patient's mean homoerotic score exceeded their mean heteroerotic score, then the patient was classified as having a homosexual sexual orientation (in relation to their birth sex). If the patient's mean heteroerotic score exceeded or was equal to their mean homoerotic score, then the patient was classified as having a non-homosexual sexual orientation. Using the phi coefficient, the correlation between each of the three pairs of classification was statistically significant (chart data and EROS, .59; chart data and SHQ, .56; EROS and SHQ, .54), all ps < .001. To be consistent with the method of sexual orientation classification of the adult patients with GID in Study 2 (see later discussion), we elected to use the chart data method of sexual orientation classification. a Categories include First Nations, Hispanic or Latino, East Asian, South Asian, Black, or "other". Note. Absolute range = 1.00–5.00. A lower score indicates more reported gender dysphoria. GIDYQ = Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults; GID = gender identity disorder; TF = transvestic fetishism; CC = clinical control. a Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD pooled. b Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD comparison group. c Reference group was the CC females. d Reference group was the CC males. e Reference group was the TF males. f Reference group was the heterosexual group. 2A preliminary analysis of the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults score, with age at assessment covaried, showed that this variable did not have a significant effect, so the data are reported without adjustment for this covariate. Note.Absolute range = 1.00–5.00. A lower score indicates more recalled cross-gender identity and gender role behavior. RCGI = Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire; GID = gender identity disorder; TF = transvestic fetishism; CC = clinical control. a Calculated as M 1 − M2/SD pooled. b Calculated as M 1 − M2/SD comparison group. c Reference group was the CC females. d Reference group was the CC males. e Reference group was the TF males. f Reference group was the heterosexual group. 3A preliminary analysis of the Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire score, with age at assessment covaried, showed that this variable did not have a significant effect, so the data are reported without adjustment for this covariate. a Includes First Nations, Hispanic or Latino, East Asian, South Asian, Black, or "other". Note. Absolute range = 1.00–5.00. A lower score indicated more reported gender dysphoria. GIDYQ = Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults; GID = gender identity disorder; CC = clinical control. a Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD pooled. b Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD CC males for males and M 1 − M 2/SD CC females for females. c Reference group was the CC females. d Reference group was the CC males. e Reference group was the heterosexual women and calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD heterosexual women. f Reference group was the heterosexual men and calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD heterosexual men. 4A preliminary analysis of the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults score, with relationship status covaried, showed that this variable did not have a significant effect, so the data are reported without adjustment for this covariate. Note. Absolute range = 1.00–5.00. A lower score indicates more recalled atypical gender identity and gender role behavior. RCGI = Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire; GID = gender identity disorder; CC = clinical control. a Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD pooled. b Calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD CC males for males and M 1 − M 2/SD CC females for females. c Reference group was the CC females. d Reference group was the CC males. e Reference group was the heterosexual females and calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD heterosexual females. f Reference group was the heterosexual males and calculated as M 1 − M 2/SD heterosexual males. 5A preliminary analysis of the Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire score, with relationship status covaried, showed that this variable did not have a significant effect, so the data are reported without adjustment for this covariate.