17. Development and Validation of new Gender Distress and Gender Positivity Scales for Young Transgender Adolescents in Canada

Existing measures of gender dysphoria or distress for research and clinical practice do not currently take into account non-binary identities, differentiate based on sexed aspects the body social gender. The existing also contain non-equivalent questions sex assigned at birth, include positive identity, which we conceptualized as differing from mere absence distress. For Trans Youth CAN! cohort study young adolescents [ages 10-15] in clinics across Canada [N=161] developed tested new (TYC-GDS) positivity (TYC-GPS) scales to address these issues, improve sensitivity early non-surgical changes care, such prescribed puberty blockers hormones. Based youth lived experience, TYC-GDS (16 items) TYC-GPS (12 were each with two subscales related gendered experiences (Social) (Body). Items use a 5-point summated rating scale disagreeing agreeing statements. Measures administered first clinic visit affirming hormone care English French. Validation involved inter-item polychoric correlations; internal consistency reliability; confirmatory factor analyses; convergent/divergent validation number depressive symptoms, self-harm, quality life, parental support; congruence/divergence between subscales. correlations consistency, dropped one item TYC-GPS, shifted Body subscale, Social subscale. CFA loadings confirmed 2-factor correlated solution both (r=0.73, p<.001) (r=0.32, p=0.001). total subscale scores significantly distress, depression, avoidance, self-harm; was desire surgery disordered eating, suicidality (all p<.05 p<.001). As hypothesized, family connectedness, school life feelings about gender, (but Social) support final negatively other (r=-0.53, p<0.001); however, most reported high levels positivity. Subscales (Body, r=-0.65, p<.001; Social, r=-0.19, Results that among trans are distinct constructs, co-occurring rather than along continuum. While found evidence validity small population designed, they should be evaluated older adolescents, non-clinical youth, adults their ongoing salience, subsequent longitudinal studies change over time.