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Correlates of Gender Dysphoria in Taiwanese University Students

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 39, pages 1415–1428 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

There have been no published reports regarding the epidemiological and psychiatric features of gender dysphoria in non-clinical young adults. The current study aimed to investigate the demographics, co-occurring psychiatric symptoms, and perceived parenting style and family support in Taiwanese young adults with gender dysphoria. The sample consisted of 5010 university freshmen (male, 51.6%) with a mean age of 19.6 years (SD = 2.7) from a national university in Taiwan. The questionnaires used for this university-based survey included the Adult Self Report Inventory-4 for psychopathology (including gender dysphoria), the Parental Bonding Instrument for parenting style, and the Family APGAR for perceived family support. Results showed that gender dysphoria was more prevalent in females (7.3%) than males (1.9%). Young adults with gender dysphoria were more likely to meet a wide but specific range of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms. The most significantly associated symptoms for males were agoraphobia, hypochondriasis, manic episode, and pathological gambling, and for females dissociative disorder, hypochondriasis, and body dysmorphic disorder. Both males and females with gender dysphoria perceived significantly less support from their families and less affection/care from both parents. Findings suggest that gender dysphoria, associated with a specific range of psychopathology and family/parenting dissatisfaction (with both similar and dissimilar patterns between sexes), is not uncommon in Taiwanese university students, particularly in females. This implies the importance of attention and specific measures to offset psychiatric conditions and to promote mental well-being of this population.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH-92-S07) and from the Office of Student Affairs, National Taiwan University. The preparation of this manuscript was supported by National Health Research Institute (NHRI-EX96-9407PC), Taiwan. The authors would like to thank the reviewers and the Editor for their insightful suggestions on the revision of the manuscript. Dr. Gadow is a shareholder in Checkmate Plus, publisher of the ASRI-4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, 10002, Taipei, Taiwan

    Meng-Chuan Lai, Yen-Nan Chiu, Susan Shur-Fen Gau & Hai-Gwo Hwu

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Meng-Chuan Lai

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Kenneth D. Gadow

  4. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Susan Shur-Fen Gau & Hai-Gwo Hwu

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  1. Meng-Chuan Lai
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  2. Yen-Nan Chiu
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  3. Kenneth D. Gadow
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Correspondence to Susan Shur-Fen Gau.

Appendix: Symptom Clusters Examined by the ASRI-4

Appendix: Symptom Clusters Examined by the ASRI-4

Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia, and panic disorder

Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Tic disorders: motor and vocal tics

Somatoform disorders: somatization disorder, hypochondriasis, and body dysmorphic disorder

Stress-response disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder

Mood disorders: major depressive episode, dysthymic disorder, and manic episode

Sleep disorders: insomnia, hypersomnia, narcolepsy, and nightmare disorder

Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Disruptive behavior disorders: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder

Impulse-control disorders: intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pathological gambling, pyromania, and trichotillomania

Dissociative disorder

Gender identity disorder

Substance use

Schizophrenia

Personality disorders: schizoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

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Lai, MC., Chiu, YN., Gadow, K.D. et al. Correlates of Gender Dysphoria in Taiwanese University Students. Arch Sex Behav 39, 1415–1428 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9570-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9570-y

Keywords

  • Gender dysphoria
  • Gender identity
  • University students
  • Psychopathology
  • Parenting style