Treatment Experiences and Social Support in Individuals with Gender Incongruence/Gender Dysphoria - A ENIGI 5 Year Follow-Up Study in Three European Countries

Abstract

Gender Dysphoria (GD) refers to a distress resulting from an incongruence between the individual's sex characteristics and the experience of their gender (Gender Incongruence, GI). The interaction between medical treatment of GI/GD and social support in the long-term has not been investigated sufficiently so far. Using an online questionnaire, the present study investigated n=117 individuals with GI/GD assigned male and n=52 assigned female at birth that had been referred to one of the specialized clinics of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI) in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.They filled out a questionnaire at 2 time points within a follow-up time of 4 to 6 years after clinical entry (between 2007 and 2009). Two hierarchical regression analyses explored the effects of the sex assigned at birth, the treatment progress and social support on mental distress and satisfaction with life at follow-up in the sample. A female sex assigned at birth and higher degrees of social support significantly predicted the reduction in mental distress at follow-up. An advanced stage of the individual treatment and higher social support significantly predicted an increase in overall satisfaction with life. The results illustrate the importance of social support with regard to the outcome of medical treatment of GI/GD.