Kiel Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire (KGDQ): development and validation of a questionnaire for change-sensitive assessment of gender dysphoria

We developed and evaluated the Kiel Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire (KGDQ), a tool designed to assess distress due to gender incongruence in individuals aged 18 and above with sensitivity to change. The 31 items of the questionnaire were generated through semi-structured guideline interviews with tra...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antonia Möck, Inken Tödt, Mathis Landsberg, Alexander Pohl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1540500/full
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Summary:We developed and evaluated the Kiel Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire (KGDQ), a tool designed to assess distress due to gender incongruence in individuals aged 18 and above with sensitivity to change. The 31 items of the questionnaire were generated through semi-structured guideline interviews with trans* patients (n = 7) and experts (n = 5), which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Additionally, modified items from other questionnaires and the item collection of a working group were considered. Subsequently, the questionnaire was completed online by gender-dysphoric participants (N = 219). A principal axis analysis revealed a conceptually plausible three-factor structure with the subscales Alienation, Gender Role Pressure, and Body Dysphoria. All subscales demonstrated at least good internal consistency with α ≥ 0.80. A correlational comparison of two testing periods indicated high test-retest reliability (r = 0.84). The convergent validity with the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale—Gender Spectrum and the divergent validity with the PHQ-9 module of the Patient Health Questionnaire were only partially demonstrated, as the predetermined thresholds were slightly under (r < 0.50) or overstepped (r > 0.40). The assessment of known-groups validity showed expected mean differences. The results suggest that the KGDQ is a reliable and valid instrument for capturing various aspects of gender dysphoria over time.
ISSN:1664-1078