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Two subgroups of gender-problem children

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Abstract

Gender-referred children who met the DSM-III diagnostic criteria for gender identity disorder of childhood (n =21) and gender-referred children who did not meet these criteria (n =15) were compared with regard to demographic, gender role, and behavioral disturbance information. As judged by parental questionnaires and behavioral tests, the cross-gender role behavior of gender-referred children who met the DSM-III criteria was generally more extreme than that of their non-DSM-III counterparts. These two diagnostically defined subgroups did not, however, differ in the degree of their behavioral and emotional disturbance. The DSM-III children were significantly younger than the non-DSM-III children, but the extent to which the disparity in age accounted for the gender role differences appeared equivocal. The implications of these findings for the diagnosis and assessment of gender-referred children are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Gender Identity Clinic, Child and Family Studies Centre, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College St., M5T 1R8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Kenneth J. Zucker Ph.D., Jo-Anne K. Finegan Ph.D., Robert W. Doering Ph.D. & Susan J. Bradley M.D.

Authors
  1. Kenneth J. Zucker Ph.D.
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  2. Jo-Anne K. Finegan Ph.D.
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  3. Robert W. Doering Ph.D.
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  4. Susan J. Bradley M.D.
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This study was supported by a grant from the Laidlaw Foundation and funding from the Sonor Foundation.

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Zucker, K.J., Finegan, JA.K., Doering, R.W. et al. Two subgroups of gender-problem children. Arch Sex Behav 13, 27–39 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542975

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