背景:青春期前变性者,非二进制,和性别多样化(TGD)儿童(即,那些声称性别认同的人,在出生时登记的性别的文化定义规范之外表达性别角色行为,或两者兼而有之)正在向美国和国外的儿科性别诊所提供更多的服务。很大一部分TGD儿童经历性别焦虑,也就是说,由于性别认同与出生时登记的性别不一致而产生的困扰。关于青春期前TGD儿童的护理缺乏共识,在某种程度上,由于缺乏对性别认同纵向发展轨迹的实证研究,角色行为,和性别烦躁不安(当存在时)。
目的:这项由美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究的目的是提供证据,通过建立美国纵向队列(N=248),对青春期前TGD儿童及其照顾者进行为期18个月的6个月的前瞻性随访,为青春期前TGD儿童的临床护理提供依据。
方法:在每个时间点,临床和行为数据通过基于网络的访问从儿童和照顾者报告者收集.潜在的类分析,在其他方法中,用于识别亚组并纵向表征TGD儿童的性别认同和性别角色行为。这些模型将定义性别认同稳定性的纵向模式,并描述TGD类与心理和行为健康结果之间的关系,包括社会性别转变的调节作用(当存在时),在这些协会。
结果:基线数据收集(N=248)已完成,预计2024年将使用潜在类别分析基于性别认同和表达的TGD亚群的识别。预计所有4波数据收集将于2024年7月完成,这与免费研究扩展期的开始相吻合。我们预计纵向分析将在2024年冬季完成。
结论:通过纵向观察设计,这项涉及青春期前TGD儿童及其照顾者的研究旨在提供美国TGD儿童样本中性别发展的经验知识,随着时间的推移,他们的心理健康症状和功能,以及家庭发起的社会性别转变如何预测或减轻心理健康症状或诊断。研究结果为临床医生和家庭提供了希望,旨在确保这些儿童在成长为青少年时获得最佳的发育结果。
■DERR1-10.2196/55558。
BACKGROUND: Prepubertal transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse (TGD) children (ie, those asserting gender identity, expressing gender-role behavior outside of culturally defined norms for their sex registered at birth, or both) are presenting in greater numbers to pediatric gender clinics across the United States and abroad. A large subset of TGD children experiences gender dysphoria, that is, distress that arises from the incongruence between gender identity and sex registered at birth. A lack of consensus exists regarding care for prepubertal TGD children due, in part, to a dearth of empirical research on longitudinal developmental trajectories of gender identity, role behavior, and gender dysphoria (when present).
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this National Institutes of Health-funded study is to provide evidence to inform clinical care for prepubertal TGD children by establishing a US longitudinal cohort (N=248) of prepubertal TGD children and their caregivers that is followed prospectively at 6-month intervals across 18 months.
METHODS: At each timepoint, clinical and behavioral data are collected via web-based visit from child and caregiver reporters. Latent class analysis, among other methods, is used to identify subgroups and longitudinally characterize the gender identity and gender-role behavior of TGD children. These models will define longitudinal patterns of gender identity stability and characterize the relationship between TGD classes and mental and behavioral health outcomes, including the moderating role of social gender transition (when present), on these associations.
RESULTS: Baseline data collection (N=248) is complete, and the identification of TGD subgroups based on gender identity and expression using latent class analysis is anticipated in 2024. The completion of all 4 waves of data collection is anticipated in July 2024, coinciding with the start of a no-cost study extension period. We anticipate longitudinal analyses to be completed by winter 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: Through a longitudinal observational design, this research involving prepubertal TGD children and their caregivers aims to provide empirical knowledge on gender development in a US sample of TGD children, their mental health symptomology and functioning over time, and how family initiated social gender transition may predict or alleviate mental health symptoms or diagnoses. The research findings have promise for clinicians and families aiming to ensure the best developmental outcome for these children as they develop into adolescents.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/55558.