Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39777592›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

"Just Listen to Me. Help Me Explore it." An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring Experiences of Gender Dysphoria, Identity And Resilience in Autistic Adolescents Assigned Female at Birth.

Michelle Oliver, Zoe Poysden, Eimear Crowe, Flo Parkin, Ally Pax Arcari Mair, Neil Hendry, Emma Macey, Karri Gillespie-Smith

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Michelle OliverDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Central Campus, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Michelle.oliver2@nhs.scot.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1317-3317
Zoe PoysdenDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Central Campus, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.
Eimear CroweNHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Young People's Gender Service, Sandyford, 2-6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G3 7NB, Scotland.
Flo ParkinDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Central Campus, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.
Ally Pax Arcari MairDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Central Campus, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.
Neil HendryPsychology Department, NHS Forth Valley, Falkirk Community Hospital, Mayfield Building, Westburn Avenue, Falkirk, FK1 5QE, UK.
Emma MaceyPsych Health, Office 7, 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JN, UK.
Karri Gillespie-SmithDepartment of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Central Campus, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Much of the current autism and gender literature has been based within a medical deficiency model; where both are seen as deficiencies rather than differences. However, there is currently minimal knowledge about the experiences of being an autistic adolescent who is both assigned female at birth and has gender dysphoria (GD), whilst even less is known about their experiences of social identity, self-concept and resilience. This study aims to explore experiences of GD with a particular focus on identity and resilience to promote parent and healthcare staff understanding; particularly around gender-affirming care, to foster positive mental health outcomes. Five assigned female at birth autistic adolescents, who identify as trans men/boys, took part in one-to-one semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach. Five subordinate themes arose; "Having both autism and GD", "Finding where I belong", "Being more than labels", "Trying to cope" and "Making support successful". Our findings build on current literature and theory regarding the experience of concurrent autism and GD; highlighting its legitimacy, the ways in which autism impacts upon GD and how healthcare approaches and policy can increase accessibility and suitability of gender-affirming care.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderGender DysphoriaGender IdentityResilience, PsychologicalTransgender PersonsAdaptation, PsychologicalAdolescentFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchSelf ConceptAdolescentAutismGender dysphoriaIPAQualitative

Identifiers

PMID39777592
PMCPMC13190371

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.