Perspectives of Thai Transgender Adults on Diagnostic Criteria for Transsexualism, Gender Incongruence, and Gender Dysphoria
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
19317611
eISSN
1931762X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85200264058
Journal Title
International Journal of Sexual Health
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Sexual Health (2024)
Suggested Citation
Bumphenkiatikul T., Hataiyusuk S., Suwan A., Panyakhamlerd K., Wainipitapong S. Perspectives of Thai Transgender Adults on Diagnostic Criteria for Transsexualism, Gender Incongruence, and Gender Dysphoria. International Journal of Sexual Health (2024). doi:10.1080/19317611.2024.2383966 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/100398
Title
Perspectives of Thai Transgender Adults on Diagnostic Criteria for Transsexualism, Gender Incongruence, and Gender Dysphoria
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives: Our study aimed to assess perspectives of the Thai transgender adults toward three diagnostic criteria: 1) transsexualism (the World Health Organisation’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision; ICD-10), 2) gender incongruence (the International Classification of Diseases, eleventh revision; ICD-11), and 3) gender dysphoria (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition; DSM-5). We also gathered comments and suggestions on these criteria for future refinement, especially specific to Thai sociocultural contexts. Methods: During February to November 2023, we conducted a survey among transgender individuals from five major Thai transgender communities. Participants were requested to 1) indicate their agreement whether each criterion could describe their identity and be suitable for the Thai transgender community using ten-point Likert scales, 2) select three keywords from each criterion and one most appropriate criterion, and 3) provide additional suggestions. Results: A total of 266 transgender individuals, participated in the study (62.4% and 25.2% transgender men and women, and 12.4% other identities). Both ICD-10 and DSM-5 criteria received the highest levels of agreement, averaging scores of 8.7 across most categories. Suggestions for refining criteria included a sufficiently long duration, using terms indicating inclusivity of all identities as a person, and noting positive outcomes of transitioning within the criteria. Conclusions: The DSM-5 criteria garnered the highest levels of agreement in terms of identity description and suitability for the Thai sociocultural contexts. Nonetheless, further refinement can be improved, especially to ensure the inclusivity of transgender individuals with identities beyond the binary.