The Gender Feeling Amplitude: an instrument to assist clinicians with the assessment of gender diverse adolescents
Elizabeth RileyUniversity of Sydney, 75 East St, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia. Email: eril6366@uni.sydney.edu.au
Sexual Health 14(5) 436-441 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH17009
Submitted: 22 January 2017 Accepted: 6 June 2017 Published: 24 August 2017
Abstract
Background: The Gender Feeling Amplitude (GFA) is a 68-item list of words and phrases with which to identify the feelings and severity of a young person’s distress regarding their gender identity and gender diversity, and takes ~1 min to administer. Method: For this pilot study, 67 adolescents and youth who sought support, confirmation or intervention (either via themselves or their parents) regarding gender diversity or gender transition were given the GFA in a face-to-face meeting before the beginning of an assessment procedure for gender diversity. Forty-three assigned females and 24 assigned males aged between 10 and 20 years were analysed by frequency of item, age and assigned gender. Results: Of the 68 items, those circled by close to 50% or more of the participants were ‘self-conscious’, ‘awkward’ and ‘don’t fit in’. One-third or more circled the words ‘shy’, ‘supported’, ‘hopeful’, ‘discomfort’, ‘as if I’m not being seen properly’, ‘forced to be something I’m not’, ‘depressed’ and ‘stressed’. Conclusion: Comparisons showed some variations in responses by both assigned gender and age, and the discussion includes ways the GFA may be able to assist a health practitioner with explorations of gender diversity and interventions for counselling.
Additional keywords: assessment, LGBT, psychology, transgender, youth.
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