Gender-typicality in italian young adults: an empirical study

Introduction: Gender typicality refers to an individual's perception of similarity to same gender group based on common interest, behaviors, attitudes, and roles. Martin and colleagues (2017) developed the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale to discover self perceived gender typicality using a Dual Identity approach. Particularly, the Dual Identity approach assesses gender typicality (or similarity) considering two different levels of similarity: feeling similar to one’s own gender and feelings similar to other gender. Methods: In study 1 the authors conducted an EFA (exploratory factor analysis) and CFA (confirmatory factor analysis) to test and validate the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scales in a sample of Italian young adults (n = 571; 62.9% female; 45.1% LGBT; Mage = 23.9; SD = 3.60). The authors documented the configural, scalar, metric measurement invariance and the convergent and the validity. In study 2, the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale used in study 1, was used in a sample of 1126 Italian young adults (76.1% female; 46.4% LGBT; Mage = 24.3; SD = 3.51). To investigate the distribution of different typologies of gender similarity in the sample a cluster analysis was conducted. Results: Results confirmed the structural validity of the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale revealing the two-factor structure of the scale (own- and other-gender similarity). Furthermore, results of cluster analysis highlight different typologies of self-perception of gender typicality. Conclusions: Both the study highlight the relevance of studying gender typicality in young adulthood through a Dual Identity approach, emphasizing the relevance of gender and sexual orientations.