Study: Most gender-confused children OUTGROW gender dysphoria during adulthood

04/11/2024 / By Laura Harris

A 15-year-period study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior reveals that “most” gender-confused children outgrow such feelings by the time they reach adulthood.

The study, conducted by Dutch researchers from the University of Groningen, tracked 2,770 children from the age of 11 until their mid-twenties. Every three years, from March 2001 to 2015, participants would respond to the same statement at six different points: “I wish to be of the opposite sex.” Participants will only choose from three options: 0-Not True, 1-Somewhat or Sometimes True, and 2-Very True or Often True. Additionally, participants rate their feelings regarding physical appearance and self-esteem to evaluate their self-worth.

Initially, the research found that about 11 percent of children experienced varying degrees of “gender non-contentedness,” a dissatisfaction with their biological sex alignment, during puberty. However, as these children reached the age of 25, the figure significantly decreased to four percent.

Thus, the study concludes that fluctuations in gender non-contentedness were associated with lower self-worth, more behavioral problems and increased emotional struggles, particularly among females. However, findings also suggest that doubts about one’s gender identity during adolescence are relatively common but tend to diminish with age.

“The results of the current study might help adolescents to realize that it is normal to have some doubts about one’s identity and one’s gender identity during this age period and that this is also relatively common,” the researchers concluded.

Experts warn colleagues about rushing children and adolescents into gender transition

This study adds to the long list of studies debunking the claims of left-wing advocates that gender “affirming” treatments like hormones and surgical interventions effectively address the mental health issues of children with gender dysphoria. (Related: American College of Pediatrics DEBUNKS claim that “affirmation” helps the mental health of children with gender dysphoria.)

Patrick Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, warned the public against aggressive steps toward facilitating gender transition in childhood and adolescence.

“This study provides even more reason to be skeptical towards aggressive steps to facilitate gender transition in childhood and adolescence. The fact that rates of satisfaction are lower even just a few years later suggests that for the vast majority of people, prudence and caution, rather than a rush towards permanent surgeries or hormone therapies, will be the best approach for teenagers struggling to make sense of the world and their place in it,” Brown said. “As such, policies that prohibit gender transition for minors make a great deal of sense.”

Meanwhile, Jay Richards, the director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion and Family, cited historical data suggesting a significant proportion of gender-dysphoric children desist from such feelings as they undergo natural puberty. So, he warned medical experts against medicalizing temporary psychological symptoms.

“We’ve known for over a decade that most kids who experience distress with their sexed bodies resolve those feelings after they pass through natural puberty. Indeed, we can infer from the DSM 5 [2013] and other sources that as many as 88 percent of gender-dysphoric girls and as many as 98 percent of gender-dysphoric boys in previous generations desisted if allowed to go through natural puberty. These two facts make it clear why “gender-affirming care” for minors is such an outrage.

“It leads, in the end, to sterilization and in many cases to a complete loss of natural sexual function. There is no good evidence that this helps minors long term. Moreover, it medicalizes what could very well be temporary psychological symptoms,” he said.

Watch this video featuring Jennifer Bilek as she talks about who is behind the trans agenda.

This video is from the Hamilton-Moore Effect channel on Brighteon.com.