Development and validation of a measure for assessing gender dysphoria in adults: The Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire

Abstract

ABSTRACTAvailable clinically useful questionnaires for people with gender dysphoria incorporate outdated binary male/female gender stereotypes. Moreover, no tools assess for gender dysphoria, a construct applicable to a gender-diverse population. This study's purpose was to develop and validate an instrument that overcame these shortcomings: the Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire (GPSQ). Method: The 14-item GPSQ was developed through consultation with patients with gender dysphoria and experts in the field. The scale was administered to three groups of participants: those seeking treatment for gender dysphoria and Control Groups 1 and 2 with no gender dysphoria.Participants were also administered the Gender Dysphoria questionnaire (a 27-item scale wherein gender dysphoria was based on a bipolar dichotomous identity, which is at one pole male and at the other pole female, with varying degrees of gender dysphoria existing between them). Results: The GPSQ showed acceptable internal consistency (α = .90), known groups, and convergent validity. The scale's sensitivity and positive predictive power were 88% and 91%, respectively. Conclusion: The GPSQ was shown to be an effective, valid, reliable outcome tool to measure gender dysphoria. The tool is likely suitable to measure the effectiveness of a number of clinical interventions within this population.