Understanding the Process and Experience of Parents of Gender Dysphoria Clients in Iran, A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Professor of Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: People with gender dysphoria have a noticeable discrepancy between their assigned gender and their experienced/expressed gender. This study aims to know the understanding and experience of parents of people with gender dysphoria about their child's condition.
Methods: With the available sampling method, interviews were conducted with 15 parents of gender dysphoria referred to Ibn Sina Hospital in Mashhad in 2019. Strauss and Corbin method was used for data analysis. A semi-structured interview was conducted. MAXQDA software was used to organize and code qualitative data.
Findings: In total, 15 interviews and 121 conceptual codes were extracted. About 58% of children with gender identity disorder were girls. The average age of these people at the time of participation in the study was
24 years, the mean age since deciding to perform surgery was 21 years, and the average age of onset of symptoms in childhood was 9 years. The findings obtained in this study, in six central categories with the titles as follows: parents' experience since the childhood of a child suffering from gender dysphoria, unusual behaviors observed in adolescence of a person with gender dysphoria from the perspective of parents, parents' feelings, parents' misbehavior, the causes of this from the parents' point of view, the problem with the individual's own experience of gender identity disorder.
Conclusion: The results showed the obvious denial and attempt to delay the evaluation and treatment process and the presence of obvious parental misconduct and neglecting the clues of GD from childhood and adolescence due to the lack of awareness about GD. Most of the parents considered the clients resolute in the path of treatment.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 40, Issue 687
3rd Week, November
November and December 2022
Pages 699-709

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 November 2022
  • Accept Date: 19 November 2022

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