Role of family function in the prediction of Gender Dysphoria in women and transgender men

Most people show signs of behavior appropriate to their biological and physical gender. While a minority of people exhibit behaviors that are different from their sexual appearance, it is called Gender Dysphoria.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Role of family function in the prediction of Gender Dysphoria in women and transgender men.

This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included all individuals with Gender Dysphoria, visiting the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization of Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, from 2014 to 2016, in order to follow legal proceedings for gender reassignment. The participants included 50 women and 50 men with Gender Dysphoria were selected via convenience sampling, gave informed consent, and completed two questionnaires: family function questionnaire and gender identity disorder questionnaire. Statistical steps were performed using spss software version 21 and data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and simultaneous regression.

The results of regression analysis showed that the best predictor of gender dysphoria in transgender women is the Communication (p<0.010) and General Functioning (p<0.012) of the family, and in transgender men, the best predictor of gender dysphoria was Communication (p<0.017), Affective Responsiveness (p<0.039), and Affective Involvement (p<0.035).

Disrupted communication in family functioning can be a major contributor to Gender Dysphoria.