Wong, W. I., van der Miesen, A. I. R., Li, T. G. F., MacMullin, L. N., & VanderLaan, D. P. (2019). Childhood social gender transition and psychosocial well-being: A comparison to cisgender gender-variant children. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 7(3), 241–253 Til tidsskriftet

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SEGM Summary

The researchers assessed the utility of childhood social gender transition (SGT) as a means of ameliorating psychological distress and improving wellbeing. Researchers used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to compare psychological function of gender-dysphoric children who socially transitioned (change of name, pronouns, and living as the member of the opposite sex) vs the children who remained in their gender role while allowed to express their gender non-conformity.

The researchers found no difference in any of the CBCL domain between the two groups. The domains included both internalizing and externalizing behaviors:

• anxious

• depressed

• somatic complaints

• social problems

• thought problems

• attention problems

• rule-breaking behavior

• aggressive behavior

The only predictor of challenges was poor peer relations, rather than the transition status.

This recent study summarizes the knowledge base about pre-pubertal social transition (SGT) as:

“It is possible that childhood SGT is associated with a decrease in psychological distress, as has been noted anecdotally; however, no studies to date have employed a longitudinal design assessing psychological well-being pre- and post-childhood SGT. The long-term implications of childhood SGT for psychological well-being are also unclear ... all of the studies to date on childhood SGT relied on the limited and potentially biased information that comes from brief parent and self-report screening instruments.”

The authors concluded: “There was little evidence that psychosocial well-being varied in relation to gender transition status ... only poor peer relationships predicted lower psychological well-being ... Socially transitioned children appear to experience similar levels of psychosocial challenges as CGV [gender-variant but not socially transitioned] children.”

SEGM Plain Language Conclusion:

This study’s reanalysis of previously published data (including Olson et al.'s 2016 study) found no evidence that social transition improved psychological outcomes. Rather, quality of peer relationships was found to be the key factor.

The benefit of social transition was not demonstrated. The risks are unknown but include an increased risk of persistence of gender dysphoria and subsequent medical and surgical interventions which carry additional health risks.

For desisting children (previously the majority desisted), the stress of having to revert to the original role may be significant.