Most Adolescents Struggling With Gender Confusion Grow Out Of It, Landmark Dutch Study Finds

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A major study from the Netherlands has shown most adolescents who struggle with gender “non-contentedness” and confusion have outgrown it by their mid-20s. Conducted at the Netherlands’ University of Groningen, the study’s researchers were careful to note that the adolescents surveyed were from the general population and not specifically from among minors who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Tracking 2,772 adolescents into early adulthood, the 15-year-long study found that 78% had no gender non-contentedness, while 19% experienced decreasing gender non-contentedness. Just 2% experienced increasing gender non-contentedness.

Eleven percent of the adolescents surveyed said they experienced “gender non-contentedness” at age 11. However, the percentage of those who reported still feeling non-contentedness fell to 4% 24-26.

“Gender non-contentedness, while being relatively common during early adolescence, in general decreases with age and appears to be associated with a poorer self-concept and mental health throughout development,” the study’s researchers said in their report. “The results of the current study might help adolescents to realize that it is normal to have some doubts about one’s identity and one’s gender identity during this age period and that this is also relatively common,” the researchers said.

The results of the study have been published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.

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