Gender dysphoria and attention problems: possible clue for biological underpinnings

Figures & data

Table 1. Comparisons between the GD group and the control group, according to sociodemographic and family characteristics.

	GD group (n = 20)	Control group (n = 40)	Statistical analyses
	n (%)
Educational level of the mother
Illiterate	1 (5%)	2 (5%)
Primary school	8 (40%)	10 (25%)
Secondary school	3 (15%)	5 (12.5%)	χ^2 = 3.887, p = .421
High school	6 (30%)	10 (25%)
University	2 (10%)	13 (32.5%)
Educational level of the father
Illiterate	0 (0%)	2 (5%)
Primary school	10 (50%)	8 (20%)
Secondary school	1 (5%)	5 (12.5%)	χ^2 = 9.125, p = .058
High school	7 (35%)	11 (27.5%)
University	2 (10%)	14 (35%)
Togetherness of parents	15(75%)	40 (100%)	χ^2 = 10.909, p = .001
Current psychiatric symptoms of parents	5 (25%)	4 (10%)	χ^2 = 2.353, p = .125
Parental history of psychiatric disorders	6 (30.0%)	4 (10.0%)	χ^2 = 3.840, p = .050
	Mean ± SD
Maternal age	39.55 ± 9.08	38.95 ± 6.93	t = 0.285, p = .777
Paternal age	42.90 ± 8.33	42.65 ± 7.23	Z = −0.102, p = .919
Number of person in the family	4.15 ± 1.14	4.45 ± 1.88	Z = −0.133, p = .894
Level of income per person (Turkish Liras)	657.50 ± 392.71	1345 ± 1177.61	t = −2.756, p = .006

Notes: GD, gender dysphoria. Significant comparisons are denoted in bold font.

Table 2. Developmental milestones of the groups.

	GD group (n = 20)	Control group (n = 40)	Statistical analyses
	Mean ± SD
Gestational age	38.50 ± 2.50 weeks	38.90 ± 2.12 weeks	Z = −1.431, p = .152
Gestational weight	3035 ± 852.13 g	3311 ± 619.01 g	Z = −1.186, p = .852
First words	10.80 ± 1.54 months	10.15 ± 2.34 months	Z = −.780, p =  .436
First sentences	19.25 ± 6.02 months	18.10 ± 4.87 months	Z = −.358, p = .720
Walking alone	12.35 ± 2.45 months	12.25 ± 1.64 months	Z = −.624, p = .532
Toilet training	24.20 ± 11.09 months	24.15 ± 4.55 months	Z = −.714, p = .475
Introduction of supplementary food	5.45 ± 1.85 months	5.90 ± 1.35 months	Z = −.750, p = .453
	% (n)
Breastfeeding more than 6 months	20% (n = 4)	25% (n = 10)	χ^2 = 0.186, p = .666

Note: GD, gender dysphoria.

Table 3. Comparison of GD and control group in terms of CBCL mean scores.

	GD group (n = 20)	Control group (n = 40)	Statistical analyses
	Mean ± SD
Withdrawn subscale	67.25 ± 12.40	53.57 ± 5.82	Z = −4.875, p < .001
Somatic complaints subscale	62.45 ± 9.18	53.42 ± 5.58	Z = −4.056, p < .001
Anxiety/depression subscale	66.65 ± 9.33	54.70 ± 6.33	Z = −4.363, p < .001
Social problems subscale	65.95 ± 13.38	51.70 ± 3.68	Z = −4.976, p < .001
Thought problems subscale	65.90 ± 7.57	54.55 ± 6.31	Z = −4.808, p < .001
Attention problems subscale	69.00 ± 10.54	53.50 ± 5.20	Z = −5.114, p < .001
Delinquent behaviour subscale	63.65 ± 11.65	51.02 ± 2.94	Z = −5.008, p < .001
Aggressive behaviour subscale	64.05 ± 11.96	51.35 ± 3.25	Z = −5.186, p < .001
Internalizing problems subscale	57.68 ± 9.78	50.00 ± 11.04	t = 5.955, p < .001
Externalizing problems subscale	64.00 ± 12.44	42.77 ± 8.64	Z = −5.219, p < .001
Total score	68.40 ± 10.93	45.67 ± 11.12	t = 7.502, p < .001

Notes: GD, gender dysphoria; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist. Significant comparisons are denoted in bold font.

Table 4. Comparison of GD and control group in terms of FAD mean scores.

	GD group (n = 20)	Control group (n = 40)	Statistical analyses
	Mean ± SD
FAD problem solving	1.74 ± 0.57	1.71 ± 0.48	Z = −.055, p = .956
FAD communication	2.00 ± 0.60	1.65 ± 0.31	Z = −2.335, p = .020
FAD roles	2.17 ± 0.42	1.90 ± 0.37	t = 2.637, p = .011
FAD affective responsiveness	1.68 ± 0.65	1.50 ± 0.36	Z = −.462, p = .644
FAD affective involvement	2.48 ± 0.45	2.17 ± 0.32	Z = −2.552, p = .011
FAD behavioural control	2.12 ± 0.46	2.04 ± 0.29	Z = −.640, p = .522
FAD general family functioning	1.82 ± 0.52	1.51 ± 0.30	Z = −2.077, p = .038

Notes: GD, gender dysphoria; FAD, Family Assessment Scale. Significant comparisons are denoted in bold font.

Table 5. Outline of the regression model, indicating the variables that affect GD in children and adolescents.

Independent variables	Wald	OR, Exp (B)	p	95% CI
Constant	8.938	104933.218	.003
Parental history of psychiatric disorders	0.311	1.770	.577	0.238–13.159
Level of income per person	1.085	1.001	.298	0.999–1.002
CBCL attention subscale scores	13.251	0.825	.000	0.743–0.915
FAD-GF subscale scores	0.068	0.727	.794	0.066–8.022
Cox&Snell R Square = 0.458 Nagelkerke R Square = 0.635

Notes: CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; FAD-GF, Family Assessment Device-General Functioning; OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval. Significant comparisons are denoted in bold font.