Prevalence of Childhood Trauma in a Clinical Population of Transsexual People

Gehring, Darlynne; Knudson, Gail

doi:10.1300/j485v08n01_03

Cited by 33 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…As noted by Veale et al (2010) one must be cautious in assuming causality here, as it is not clear whether those who are gender-variant are more susceptible to abuse or whether sexual abuse is itself a risk factor in gender variance (cf. also Gehring & Knudson, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religiosity, childhood abuse, and other risk factors correlated with voluntary genital ablation.

Vale¹,

Siemens²,

Johnson³

et al. 2013

Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des

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We explored the personal history of men who voluntarily seek genital ablation for reasons other than male-to-female transitioning. We focused on three groups: (a) men who have had voluntary genital ablation; (b) men who desire genital ablation and fantasize about it (self-described "wannabes"); and (c) those who claim to be merely interested in the subject of castration. An online survey was posted at eunuch.org that asked about religiosity, childhood abuse, sexual orientation, parental threats of castration, and whether the respondents had witnessed animal castrations in their youth. Data were collected on 301 men who had obtained genital ablations (mean age 45.4 years old), 1,385 wannabes (44.3 years old), and 1,242 individuals who were reportedly "just interested" in castration (41.8 years old). We have confirmed that: (a) having witnessed animal castrations during childhood, (b) having been threatened with castration as a child for behaviours deemed inappropriate by a parent figure, and (c) being homosexual or bisexual, are all common among individuals with extreme castration ideations. In addition, the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse among men who had genital ablations and wannabes was 1.4 times greater than among "just interested" individuals. For men who had obtained genital ablations, "very devout" parental religiosity was 1.8 times more common than it was for wannabes and 1.3 times more common than it was for "just interested" individuals. Individuals who were raised by "very devout" parents and who were also sexually abused had significantly greater odds and likelihood of reporting being voluntarily castrated and/or penectomized than respondents without those risk factors. Our study may aid clinicians in identifying and distinguishing individuals who are at risk of genital ablation through self-surgery or by nonprofessionals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religiosity, childhood abuse, and other risk factors correlated with voluntary genital ablation.

Vale¹,

Siemens²,

Johnson³

et al. 2013

Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies have also shown high rates of childhood sexual, emotional, and physical abuse among transsexuals (Devor, 1994;Gehring & Knudson, 2005;Kersting et al, 2003;Lothstein, 1983;Pauly, 1974;Veale, Clarke, & Lomax, 2010a), although most of these studies did not use control groups.…”

Section: Early Childhood Influencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity-Defense Model of Gender-Variant Development

Veale

Lomax

Clarke

2010

International Journal of Transgenderism

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“…Although gender problems have not been found in parents of individuals with GID, (Zucker & Bradley, 1995;Zucket et al, 1997, cited in Dettore & Ristori, 2005, highly stressful factors or traumas (loss of important family members, abortions, illness of parents or conflicts between them) were found in the primary attachment figures' history operating just before or during early childhood of patients with GID (Coates & Moore, 1998;Zucker & Bradley, 1995). At the same time, several recent studies have also shown a high rate of traumatic experiences (Di Ceglie, 2000;Gehring & Knudson, 2005;Herek, Gillis, & Cogan, 1999;Kersting et al, 2003;Kuehnle & Sullivan, 2001) in the autobiographical narratives of individuals with GID, which may relate to specific, though as yet unknown, transgenerational dynamics.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Identity Disorder and Attachment Theory: The Influence of the Patient's Internal Working Models on Psychotherapeutic Engagement and Objective. A Study Undertaken Using the Adult Attachment Interview

Vitelli

Riccardi

2010

International Journal of Transgenderism

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Until now, studies related to gender identity disorder (GID) in adult patients carried out within the framework of attachment theory have been scarce. The current research project aimed to explore the theme related to the specific nature of the current states of mind with respect to attachment in adult male patients suffering from GID, and to evaluate simultaneously the level of psychopathology associated with conditions of GID. The first 18 patients suffering from GID, who came to the Functional Area of Psychology of the Clinical Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour of the "Federico II" University Hospital between 2005 and 2007 to psychological assistance for problems connected to gender dysphoria, were registered in sequential order. The following tests were administered to all patients: (a) investigation of case histories and motivation, (b) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), and (c) Adult Attachment Interview. The results show an increase, among people with GID, of insecure conditions of the mind and of unresolved/disorganized conditions of the mind with respect to traumas or losses. Results obtained by MMPI-2 confirm the absence of other psychopathological conditions previously reported in the scientific literature. Based on the results of our exploratory research, we discuss how psychological intervention could have a dual objective of improving the possibility of access to a fuller and more satisfying emotional-relational life and of allowing an adequate working-through of complex traumatic events, which appear to affect the life experiences of individuals with GID and, often, seem not to have been adequately worked through.

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Prevalence of Childhood Trauma in a Clinical Population of Transsexual People

Cited by 33 publications

References 13 publications

Religiosity, childhood abuse, and other risk factors correlated with voluntary genital ablation.

Religiosity, childhood abuse, and other risk factors correlated with voluntary genital ablation.

Identity-Defense Model of Gender-Variant Development

Gender Identity Disorder and Attachment Theory: The Influence of the Patient's Internal Working Models on Psychotherapeutic Engagement and Objective. A Study Undertaken Using the Adult Attachment Interview

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