"They Thought It Was an Obsession": Trajectories and Perspectives of Autistic Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adolescents

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
John F StrangLaura G Anthony

Abstract

Despite research exploring autism in gender-diverse adolescents, no studies have elicited these individuals' perspectives. In-depth interviews with 22 well-characterized autistic gender-diverse adolescents revealed critical themes, including: recollections of pre-pubertal gender nonconformity; vivid experiences of gender dysphoria; a fear of social gender expression due to perceived animosity toward transgender people; and specific challenges that result from the interplay of gender diversity and neurodiversity. During the ~ 22 month study social gender affirmation increased in six participants and gender dysphoria attenuated in four participants. Given the ethical imperative to understand and prioritize the voiced perspectives and needs of autistic gender minority adolescents as well as the discovery of shared themes and experiences in this population, results should inform clinical research approaches and priorities.

References

Dec 24, 1997·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·C LordN Minshew
Jan 7, 2003·Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America·Lori KrasnySally Ozonoff
Feb 2, 2006·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Francesca Happé, Uta Frith
Oct 6, 2006·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part a·Janet E LainhartFred Volkmar
Aug 24, 2007·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·Christina CorselloCatherine Lord
Sep 22, 2007·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·Susie ChandlerAndrew Pickles
Apr 11, 2009·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Sven BölteJohn N Constantino
Jan 23, 2010·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Annelou L C de VriesTheo A Doreleijers
Jun 17, 2010·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics : the Official Publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics·Hane LeeStanley F Nelson
Jul 22, 2010·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Annelou L C de VriesPeggy T Cohen-Kettenis
Dec 15, 2010·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Jojanneke A BastiaansenAnnelies de Bildt
Aug 23, 2011·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Megan NorrisMichael C Edwards
Sep 21, 2013·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Nicola K GaleSabi Redwood
Oct 24, 2013·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Blythe A CorbettYanna Song
Nov 14, 2013·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Elizabeth K CridlandChristopher A Magee
Mar 5, 2014·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Vanessa Hus, Catherine Lord
Apr 1, 2014·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Hannah CholemkeryChristine M Freitag
Nov 29, 2014·Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry·Vicky HoltMichael Dunsford
Mar 17, 2015·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Elin SkagerbergPolly Carmichael
Dec 15, 2015·LGBT Health·Daniel E ShumerAmy Tishelman
May 29, 2016·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Samantha J GridleyDavid J Breland
Jul 28, 2016·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Sarah BargielaWilliam Mandy
Oct 25, 2016·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·John F StrangLaura G Anthony
Apr 14, 2017·LGBT Health·Leena NahataAmy C Tishelman
Oct 13, 2017·Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health·Kenneth J ZuckerDoug P VanderLaan
Nov 16, 2017·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Emma I WilliamsBridget E Jones
Nov 21, 2017·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Aoife HickeyJoshua Stott
Dec 1, 2017·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Anna I R van der MiesenCatharina A Hartman
Jan 6, 2018·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·Jack L Turban, Gerrit I van Schalkwyk
Jul 17, 2018·BioMed Research International·Marta R BizicMiroslav L Djordjevic

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 29, 2019·LGBT Health·Elizabeth Hisle-GormanDavid A Klein
Dec 10, 2019·Current Opinion in Psychiatry·Meng-Chuan Lai, Peter Szatmari
Jun 4, 2020·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Alana WhitlockWilliam Mandy
Dec 16, 2018·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Anders Nordahl-HansenRoald A Øien
Oct 21, 2019·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Kristen Bottema-BeutelDavid Scanlon
May 8, 2020·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·John F StrangLaura G Anthony
Apr 25, 2021·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Hillary K SchiltzAmy V Van Hecke
Jun 15, 2021·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·John F StrangLauren Kenworthy
Aug 12, 2021·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Kate CooperAilsa Russell
Jun 15, 2021·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Jung-Chi ChangSusan Shur-Fen Gau
Aug 24, 2021·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Goldie A McQuaidGregory L Wallace

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues. Here is the latest research on autism.

Related Papers

Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity
Walter O BocktingRandi Ettner
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
K Lehmann, G Leavey
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Loren S Schechter
Pediatrics in Review
Ximena LopezElka Jacobson-Dickman
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Edgardo Menvielle, Veronica Gomez-Lobo
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved