- Many of the youth experienced the onset of puberty as distressing because the body developed in the wrong direction. 
- For some, puberty was distressing, but it took a while before they connected this with being different from others in relation to gender.

Sub-theme: Puberty

- Some youth expressed hatred towards their body. 
- Many of the youth struggled in relating to their body and feeling an ownership of it because they felt a sense of alienation and being disconnected. 

Sub-theme: Disconnected from the Body 

- Because of the pivotal role of the body, body modification was important in order to be recognized. Body modifications could be achieved through medical treatment or modification of the body through means such as weight reduction or cutting the hair. 
- Reinterpreting the body in light of societal gender norms influenced subjective experiences of gender dysphoria. It seemed that body modifications were more helpful for some if they were accompanied by reinterpretations of the body. 

Sub-theme: Body as a Hub of Communication

The body emerged as an important contributing factor to the development and unfolding of subjective experiences of gender dysphoria.

Arizona State University

- Highlighting of subjective experience in the new diagnoses – gender dysphoria and gender incongruence – raises questions regarding how we understand the concept of gender dysphoria. 
- Since subjective experiences represent the clinical target of medical treatment, it seems to be especially important to gain further knowledge about the 
nature of gender dysphoria to improve future treatment. 

Subjective Experiences of Gender Dysphoria

Jessen, R. S., Haraldsen, I., & Stänicke, E. (2021). Navigating in the dark: Meta-synthesis of subjective experiences of gender dysphoria amongst transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Social Science & Medicine, 281, 114094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114094

Navigating in the Dark: Meta-Synthesis of Subjective Experiences of Gender Dysphoria Amongst Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth

The gradual process of gaining insight into one’s gender identity was described as navigation in the dark, from the first feelings of being different in childhood, to the gradually increasing identification as a gender minority.

Theme: Gender Dysphoria as Navigation in the Dark 

- The importance of other people and the relational dynamic emerged as 
central to understanding how subjective experiences of gender dysphoria develop and unfold. 

Theme: Relating with Others 

Theme: Body 

- Subjective experiences of gender dysphoria were linked to sexuality for some youth 
because the increasing sexual exploration associated with adolescence and young adulthood created a confusing intersection between gender and sexuality. 
- Forming sexual relations with other people could both bring gender to the surface and alleviate subjective experiences of gender dysphoria. 

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