The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals
BackgroundGender euphoria (i.e., a positive feeling associated with one’s gender identity, expression, or affirmation) is widely discussed among transgender and gender diverse (hereafter referred to as trans) individuals. However, as a construct, gender euphoria has never been formally measured and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1284991/full |
| _version_ | 1827390322885263360 |
|---|---|
| author | C. A. Blacklock C. A. Blacklock M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit C. C. Pace C. C. Pace C. C. Pace B. Elphinstone K. C. Pang K. C. Pang K. C. Pang S. Buzwell |
| author_facet | C. A. Blacklock C. A. Blacklock M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit C. C. Pace C. C. Pace C. C. Pace B. Elphinstone K. C. Pang K. C. Pang K. C. Pang S. Buzwell |
| author_sort | C. A. Blacklock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundGender euphoria (i.e., a positive feeling associated with one’s gender identity, expression, or affirmation) is widely discussed among transgender and gender diverse (hereafter referred to as trans) individuals. However, as a construct, gender euphoria has never been formally measured and has rarely been empirically studied. Hence, this protocol paper illustrates our process for developing and validating a new tool to measure gender euphoria, known as the Gender Euphoria Scale (GES), for use with trans populations.MethodsDeductive methods including findings from previous research and a review of existing measures, together with inductive methods such as expert feedback and focus groups with trans individuals, were used to generate a preliminary item pool for the GES. Pilot testing with trans community members and mental health clinicians was then used to refine items and develop a preliminary scale. Trans participants involved in an ongoing longitudinal study (TRANSform) were invited to complete the scale alongside measures of personality and gender factors to assess validity. Participants were then invited to complete the scale two weeks after initial completion to assess the test–retest reliability of the scale. The next stage in the scale development process will be to examine the dimensionality of the GES using exploratory factor analytic techniques. The scale will then be assessed for internal consistency, temporal stability, discriminant validity, and convergent validity.ConclusionThis paper outlines the development and characterization of a novel tool to measure gender euphoria for the first time. The GES will facilitate research opportunities to better understand the nature of gender euphoria and its influences, and may be used clinically to examine relationships between gender euphoria and gender affirming interventions. Hence, we expect the GES to make a significant contribution to both research and clinical practice with trans communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c3b33ee14ff4b819471610883d02ed8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c3b33ee14ff4b819471610883d02ed82024-01-05T04:53:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-01-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12849911284991The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individualsC. A. Blacklock0C. A. Blacklock1M. A. Tollit2M. A. Tollit3M. A. Tollit4C. C. Pace5C. C. Pace6C. C. Pace7B. Elphinstone8K. C. Pang9K. C. Pang10K. C. Pang11S. Buzwell12Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaThe Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaThe Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaThe Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaBackgroundGender euphoria (i.e., a positive feeling associated with one’s gender identity, expression, or affirmation) is widely discussed among transgender and gender diverse (hereafter referred to as trans) individuals. However, as a construct, gender euphoria has never been formally measured and has rarely been empirically studied. Hence, this protocol paper illustrates our process for developing and validating a new tool to measure gender euphoria, known as the Gender Euphoria Scale (GES), for use with trans populations.MethodsDeductive methods including findings from previous research and a review of existing measures, together with inductive methods such as expert feedback and focus groups with trans individuals, were used to generate a preliminary item pool for the GES. Pilot testing with trans community members and mental health clinicians was then used to refine items and develop a preliminary scale. Trans participants involved in an ongoing longitudinal study (TRANSform) were invited to complete the scale alongside measures of personality and gender factors to assess validity. Participants were then invited to complete the scale two weeks after initial completion to assess the test–retest reliability of the scale. The next stage in the scale development process will be to examine the dimensionality of the GES using exploratory factor analytic techniques. The scale will then be assessed for internal consistency, temporal stability, discriminant validity, and convergent validity.ConclusionThis paper outlines the development and characterization of a novel tool to measure gender euphoria for the first time. The GES will facilitate research opportunities to better understand the nature of gender euphoria and its influences, and may be used clinically to examine relationships between gender euphoria and gender affirming interventions. Hence, we expect the GES to make a significant contribution to both research and clinical practice with trans communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1284991/fulltransgendergender diversegender euphoriagender dysphoriamental healthscale development |
| spellingShingle | C. A. Blacklock C. A. Blacklock M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit M. A. Tollit C. C. Pace C. C. Pace C. C. Pace B. Elphinstone K. C. Pang K. C. Pang K. C. Pang S. Buzwell The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals Frontiers in Psychology transgender gender diverse gender euphoria gender dysphoria mental health scale development |
| title | The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| title_full | The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| title_fullStr | The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| title_short | The Gender Euphoria Scale (GES): a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| title_sort | gender euphoria scale ges a protocol for developing and validating a tool to measure gender euphoria in transgender and gender diverse individuals |
| topic | transgender gender diverse gender euphoria gender dysphoria mental health scale development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1284991/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cablacklock thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT cablacklock thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT belphinstone thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT sbuzwell thegendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT cablacklock gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT cablacklock gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT matollit gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT ccpace gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT belphinstone gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT kcpang gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals AT sbuzwell gendereuphoriascalegesaprotocolfordevelopingandvalidatingatooltomeasuregendereuphoriaintransgenderandgenderdiverseindividuals |