Do Children With Gender Dysphoria Have Intense/Obsessional Interests?

Abstract

This study examined whether children clinically referred for gender dysphoria (GD) show increased symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Circumscribed preoccupations or intense interests were considered as overlapping symptoms expressed in GD and ASD. In gender-referred children (n = 534; 82.2% male) and their siblings (n = 419; 57.5% male), we examined Items 9 and 66 on the Child Behavior Checklist, which measure obsessions and compulsions, respectively. Non-GD clinic-referred (n = 1,201; 48.5% male) and nonreferred (n = 1,201; 48.5% male) children were also examined. Gender-referred children were elevated compared to all other groups for Item 9, and compared to siblings and nonreferred children for Item 66. A gender-related theme was significantly more common for gender-referred boys than male siblings on Item 9 only. A gender-related theme was not significantly more common for gender-referred girls compared to their female siblings on either item. The findings for Item 9 support the idea that children with GD show an elevation in obsessional interests. For gender-referred boys in particular, gender-related themes constituted more than half of the examples provided by their mothers. Intense/obsessional interests in children with GD may be one of the factors underlying the purported link between GD and ASD.

Individuals with gender dysphoria and autism: barriers to good clinical practice

“…Furthermore, increased obsessional interests and preoccupations may be overlapping symptoms between gender dysphoria and ASC. In the context of ASC, intense and obsessional interests tend to be strongly formed (Van der Laan et al ., ) which may be transient or lifelong (Parkinson ). Thus, there is some concern about diagnosing gender dysphoria in individuals with ASC because cross‐gender behaviours may simply represent a transient interest.…”

Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Lemaire et al [36] described a 23 years old natal female with GID, ASD and a borderline IQ level. The case study described not only the clinical presentation, but also the treatment.…”

“…More recently, VanderLaan et al [36] recruited children referred to a gender identity clinic, their siblings, and children referred for intense/obsessional interests. Questions 9 (obsession) and 66 (compulsion) where used from the Child Behavior Checklist which is used as a method for identifying problematic behavior in children.…”

“…A fifth, recruited parents of adolescents with Gender Dysphoria attending services and asked them to complete the Systemising Quotient (SQ) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) [35]. Finally, the remaining study investigated the rate of obsessional interest and compulsive behavior using questions from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) [36].…”

Princesses and Superheroes: Social‐Cognitive Influences on Early Gender Rigidity

“…Furthermore, some children exhibit gender rigidity by embracing what is deemed appropriate for one's gender (e.g., a girl's love of dresses), rejecting what is deemed appropriate for the other gender (e.g., a girl's refusal to wear pants), or combining the two. Although some children might fervently prefer what society deems appropriate for the other gender (e.g., boys who adore pink; ), in this article, I limit the scope of gender rigidity to adherence to traditional gender norms.…”