Exploring puberty in gender diverse youth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring puberty in gender diverse youth: Experiences of assigned females with social communication difficulties.
IRAS ID
233272
Contact name
Felicity Caryer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomons Institute at Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 29 days
Research summary
Clinicians at the Tavistock Gender Identity Development service (GIDS) have noticed a changing demographic in their referrals. They have not only seen a significant increase in all referrals over the past 10 years, but they have also noticed an increasing number of assigned females at birth being referred. Services and media both in the UK and in other countries have also noted that an increasing number of young people attending the clinic have a diagnosis of autism. Little research has been carried out exploring gender diverse young people who also experience autistic traits.
Puberty is a crucial period in terms of gender identity, and it can be a time of particular difficulty for gender variant young people and indeed young people with autistic traits.The current research aims therefore aims to explore the views of gender diverse young people, assigned female at birth who also experience autistic traits. 8-12 young people from the ages of 9-14will be recruited from the GIDS clinic and will be invited to attend an approximately two hour long interview. The interview will consist of completing a measure of ‘intolerance of uncertainty’, a questionnaire about knowledge of puberty and an activity exploring individuals personal constructs of gender and of puberty.
The study will utilise a in-depth case study design, using participants questionnaires, interview activity and pre-completed assessment questionnaires to gain a detailed insight into their experience. Levels of intolerance of uncertainty and puberty knowledge will be considered across the group and in comparison to the literature. Thematic analysis will be used to consider the entire data set.
The research is funded by Health Education England as part of a Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme. Participants will be recruited via the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust's Gender Identity Development Service.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0523
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion