Examining the Role of Parental Bonding in Development of Gender Dysphoria among University Students in Pakistan

The current cross-sectional study focuses on the prevalence of gender dysphoria and its relationship with parental bonding. A total of 787 university students, age ranging from18 to 24 were enrolled from various public and private universities in Pakistan. The Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults (GIDYQ-AA) was used to assess gender dysphoria and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) assessed parental bonding of both mothers and fathers. Gender dysphoria was reported by 12.2% of university students, indicating a correlation between gender dysphoria and parental bonding. Additionally, various cultural contextual factors were analyzed and found that participants from joint families and private institutes exhibited more gender dysphoria. Participants living in joint family most frequently reported optimal parenting and neglectful parenting, while participants from private institutes reported optimal parenting and affectionless control. These findings demonstrate the numerous ways in which familial and educational environments impact gender dysphoria experiences, necessitating the development of individualized interventions.