Gender Dysphoria and Perceived Social Support: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Abstract Background In people diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD), low perceived social support from their families and society has been suggested to be associated with poor quality of life and mental well-being. Aim To compare the perceived social support in individuals with GD with that in individuals without GD matched for age and gender. Methods The study group (n = 50) consisted of individuals diagnosed with GD via psychiatric evaluation. A control group (n = 50) was created by matching volunteers without GD by age and gender. Sociodemographic data form, Structured Clinical Interview Form for DSM-IV TR Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to gather data from participants. Outcomes comparing the perceived social support, the total and subscale MSPSS scores of groups were calculated. Results The presence of at least 1 psychiatric disorder was significantly higher in the GD group than in the control group, either lifetime or during evaluation (P  Clinical Implications The findings show that perceived social support in people diagnosed with GD is lower, even when the presence of psychiatric disorders is included in the analysis. Strengths and Limitations The matched case-control design was the major study strength, whereas the sample size was the major limitation. Conclusion Clinical care of people diagnosed with GD should include the evaluation of diverse sources of social support, efforts to strengthen family and friend support, maintenance of interpersonal relationships, and support of mental well-being. Kaptan S, Cesur E, Basar K, et al. Gender Dysphoria and Perceived Social Support: A Matched Case-Control Study. J Sex Med 2021;XX:XXX–XXX.