Attachment patterns and complex trauma in a sample of adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria

Background

In recent years, people diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD) were object to various psychological evaluations from several different perspectives. Occurrence of early relational traumas is a recurring finding in GD literature,... [ view full abstract ]

Aim(s)

I. To explore the distribution of mental representations with regard to attachment in a group of adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria and to confront it with a cisgender group; II. To explore and evaluate trauma history... [ view full abstract ]

Methods

Ninety-five adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria (74 trans women; 21 trans men) were compared with eighty-seven cisgender adults. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was administered to both samples for the assessment of... [ view full abstract ]

Main Outcome Measures

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is a semi-structured interview which explores adult’s mental representations of attachment while discussing childhood experiences. AAI scoring system is based on the participant’s... [ view full abstract ]

Results

Data revealed significant differences regarding the distribution of attachment patterns between trans people and the cisgender sample. The two samples also differentiated regarding the exposure to complex trauma in childhood... [ view full abstract ]

Conclusion

Our findings underline the traumatic history and the disorganization of attachment which characterise the experiences of our trans sample, both in trans women and trans men participants. These results highlight the need for... [ view full abstract ]

Authors

  1. Guido Giovanardi (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome)
  2. Carola Maggiora Vergano (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome)
  3. Alexandro Fortunato (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome)
  4. Roberto Vitelli (Neurosciences Department, University of Naples Federico II)
  5. Anna Maria Speranza (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome)
  6. Vittorio Lingiardi (3Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome)

Topic Area

Oral & Poster Topics: Mental health

Session

PS-2 » E-Posters Mental Health (1) (16:30 - Thursday, 6th April, Exhibition Hall)

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