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94 % identifizierten sich 5 Jahre nach früher sozialer Transition weiterhin als trans – ohne Vergleichsgruppe

Geschlechtsidentität 5 Jahre nach sozialer Transition

Kohorten- & RegisterstudienDesistance im Kindesalter
Authors
Kristina R. Olson, Lily Durwood, Rachel Horton, Natalie M. Gallagher, Aaron Devor
Journal
Pediatrics
Year
2022
Source
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-056082

Summary

The Trans Youth Project followed 317 US and Canadian children who had fully socially transitioned (changed name, pronouns and presentation) between ages 3 and 12. About five years later, 94% still identified as trans, 3.5% as nonbinary and 2.5% as their birth sex; 7.3% had changed identity at least once. By the end, about 60% had started puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones. The authors concluded that switching back is uncommon. Children in supportive, mostly well-off volunteer families usually kept their new identity. But there was no comparison group of similar children who did not transition, so the study cannot say whether this reflects the children or the transition itself. Zucker and others argue early social transition may itself lock in identity, a question the Cass Review's evidence review treated as unresolved.

Key findings

  • 317 Kinder (208 trans Mädchen, 109 trans Jungen), die vollständig sozial transitioniert waren, traten zwischen 2013 und 2017 im Alter von 3 bis 12 (Durchschnitt 8) der Studie bei.
  • Etwa 5,4 Jahre nach der ersten Transition identifizierten sich 94 % als trans Jungen oder Mädchen, 3,5 % als nichtbinär und 2,5 % (8 junge Menschen) mit ihrem Geburtsgeschlecht.
  • 7,3 % hatten ihre Identität mindestens einmal gewechselt, darunter 1,3 %, die später zu einer trans Identität zurückkehrten.
  • Kinder, die vor dem 6. Lebensjahr transitionierten, identifizierten sich später eher mit ihrem Geburtsgeschlecht (5,6 % gegenüber 0,5 %); die meisten dieser Wechsel geschahen vor dem 10. Lebensjahr.
  • Am Ende hatten 92 Pubertätsblocker (Medikamente, die die Pubertät anhalten) und 98 gegengeschlechtliche Hormone begonnen, etwa 60 % der Gruppe auf einem medizinischen Weg.
  • Die Familien traten im Durchschnitt 1,6 Jahre nach der Transition des Kindes bei, und 26 Familien (8 %) hatten sich in den letzten zwei Jahren nicht gemeldet.
  • Nur 70 waren bei der Nachuntersuchung 14 oder älter, daher wurden die meisten Ergebnisse vor oder zu Beginn der Adoleszenz gemessen.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Concerns about early childhood social transitions among transgender youth include that these youth may later change their gender identification (ie, retransition), a process that could be distressing. The current study aimed to provide the first estimate of retransitioning and to report the current gender identities of youth an average of 5 years after their initial social transitions. METHODS: The current study examined the rate of retransition and current gender identities of 317 initially transgender youth (208 transgender girls, 109 transgender boys; M = 8.1 years at start of study) participating in a longitudinal study, the Trans Youth Project. Data were reported by youth and their parents through in-person or online visits or via e-mail or phone correspondence. RESULTS: We found that an average of 5 years after their initial social transition, 7.3% of youth had retransitioned at least once. At the end of this period, most youth identified as binary transgender youth (94%), including 1.3% who retransitioned to another identity before returning to their binary transgender identity. A total of 2.5% of youth identified as cisgender and 3.5% as nonbinary. Later cisgender identities were more common among youth whose initial social transition occurred before age 6 years; their retransitions often occurred before age 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that retransitions are infrequent. More commonly, transgender youth who socially transitioned at early ages continued to identify that way. Nonetheless, understanding retransitions is crucial for clinicians and families to help make retransitions as smooth as possible for youth.

Conclusion

These results suggest that retransitions are infrequent. More commonly, transgender youth who socially transitioned at early ages continued to identify that way. Nonetheless, understanding retransitions is crucial for clinicians and families to help make retransitions as smooth as possible for youth. The authors caution against over-interpreting differences from older desistance studies, note that identities 'should not be interpreted as final', and say parents and clinicians should be informed that not all youth will continue on the same trajectory.