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Gender-Dysphoric Children and Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis of Demographic Characteristics and Behavioral Problems

This study compared 358 children (mean age, 7.2 years) and 72 adolescents (mean age, 15.8 years) referred clinically for problems in their gender identity development with regard to demographic characteristics, behavioral problems, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and peer relations. Compared with the adolescent sample, the child sample had a greater proportion of males, had a higher mean IQ, was more likely to come from a higher social class background, was more likely to be living with both of their parents, was more likely to be Caucasian, was more likely to be born in Canada, and was more likely to speak English as a first language. The adolescent sample showed significantly more general behavioral disturbance on the CBCL than did the child sample although both age groups had, on average, mean scores that fell within the clinical range. The adolescent sample also had significantly poorer peer relations than the child sample, as judged by a three-item Peer Relations Scale derived from the CBCL. The differences in CBCL psychopathology generally remained significant even when controlling for the differences in demographics. The strongest predictor of CBCL psychopathology was that of the Peer Relations Scale. The role of both poor peer relations and the demographic variables in accounting for the CBCL psycho- pathology and with regard to gender identity differentiation is discussed.