Reflections on gender diversity in young people today: the Italian validation of the Gender Diversity Questionnaire (GDQ)

Introduction: In recent years, gender diverse young people have developed new ways of describing their gender and different shapes of gender identities have been portrayed in literature. However, although the awareness of new concepts of gender, little is known about these evolving concepts and how they can impact the clinical care of gender diverse young people presenting to specialized gender clinics. Aim of the present study was to validate the Italian version of the Gender Diversity Questionnaire developed by the GIDS of London, an instrument which investigates the range of different ways gender variant people identify in regard to their gender and describes how gender identity is expressed. Methods: The Gender Diversity Questionnaire (GDQ) explored the gender identity and gender expressions of people who access the Service for the Adjustment between Physical and Physic Identity (SAIFIP) of Rome. Results: A total of 116 responses of adolescents aged 12 to 18 were collected. Among the sample, the 29.3% of the total respondents were AMAB and 70.7% were AFAB. Categories of trans (66.4%), male (59.5%), female (26.7%) and agender (4.3%) emerged. The 80.2% of the sample identified as binary and the 19.8% identified as nonbinary. Differences among gender fluidity and self-defined identities emerged based on assigned gender and age. Body uneasiness, family, friends, social media and meeting trans* people were described as factors influencing one’s gender expression. Harsh experiences related to gender expressions such as transphobic and appearance related bullying, were reported by the 55.2% of the sample. Conclusions: The findings provide a framework of how the gender diverse population referring to specialist gender services is changing, reflecting broader social and cultural shifts in thinking about gender. Specifically, the study highlights the need to acknowledge these new concepts in order to provide better support and care.