(140) Demographic Trends Among Youth Referred for Gender Incongruence

Introduction In recent years, the National Gender Identity Service (GIS) has seen a marked increase in the number of young people seeking clinical support related to gender incongruence (GI), reflecting broader international trends. Understanding the sociodemographic characteristics of this population is essential for improving current assessment protocols and ensuring personalised care. Objective To examine sociodemographic characteristics and describe the developmental patterns of GI among young people assessed at the National GIS from 2016 to 2024. Methods This retrospective, observational study included all individuals under 18 years of age who attended at least one appointment at the National GIS between 2016 and 2024. Data were extracted from medical records to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, including age, sex assigned at birth, region of residence, and family structure. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to summarise and characterise the study population. Results A total of 1,422 young people were assessed at the GIS between 2016 and 2024, with referrals increasing notably between 2018 and 2021. Individuals assigned female sex at birth (AFAB) predominated (71.45%), compared with those assigned male sex at birth (AMAB) (28.55%). The median age at first assessment was 15.17 years for AFAB and 15.30 years for AMAB individuals. Among adolescents, 74.75% were AFAB and 25.25% were AMAB, while among children under 11 years of age, 41.01% were AFAB and 58.99% were AMAB. Regarding gender identity, 62.73% identified as transmasculine, 24.96% as transfeminine, 6.12% as nonbinary, and 6.19% reported another identity. Regional variation was observed, with higher referral rates from the eastern part of the country (56.12%), particularly in the capital area. Overall, 7.16% of those assessed were born abroad; of these, 45.10% originated from other European countries and 21.57% from Asia. About half of the cohort (52.74%) came from divorced households; among these, 54.27% lived with only one parent and 33.07% alternated between both. Conclusions Over the past nine years, referrals of young people with GI to a national centre have been demographically skewed, with approximately two-thirds AFAB and notable regional variation. These findings reflect international trends and underscore the need for further research into how social factors, healthcare structures, identity development, and gender minority stress influence transgender youths’ likelihood of disclosing their identity and accessing care. Such knowledge is essential to inform inclusive, context-sensitive approaches that support the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse youth. Disclosure No