Therapists alarmed by shocking increase in gender confusion among young children

A new study out of the UK shows a shocking increase in gender confusion among young children, and mental health experts are sounding the alarm.

The study was published in the UK medical journal The Archives of Disease in Childhood, showing that instances of gender dysphoria among children have skyrocketed over the last decade, with young females being the most affected.

Participants included “3782 patients aged 0–18 years with a recorded history of gender dysphoria/incongruence and matched comparators with autism spectrum conditions or eating disorder.” The results showed a shocking 50-fold increase in documented gender confusion.

“Between 2011 and 2021, incidence rates of recorded gender dysphoria/incongruence increased from 0.14 to 4.4, […] and from 2014 the rate increased more rapidly in recorded females than males,” the study reports.

“Of the 3782 children and young people with a record of gender dysphoria/incongruence, 176 (4.7%) were prescribed puberty suppressing hormones; 302 (8.0%) were prescribed masculinising/feminising hormones; and 1994 (52.7%) had a record of anxiety, depression or self-harm.”

“Recorded prevalence of gender dysphoria/incongruence increased substantially in children and young people between 2011 and 2021, particularly in recorded females. Levels of anxiety, depression and self-harm were high, indicating an urgent need for better prevention and treatment of mental health difficulties in these patients,” the conclusion of the study reads.

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author, told Fox News Digital that social influences may have something to do with such a significant increase in mental health issues over such a short period of time.

“While increased awareness has made it easier for some children to express their struggles, we cannot ignore the possibility that social contagion, along with peer influence and social media—may be contributing to this surge,” he explained, adding that adolescents are particularly susceptible to messaging as they continue to navigate developing from a child into a young adult. Hormone fluctuation, environmental factors and peer pressure all play a role in the identity-forming process in this fundamental stage of life.

“Adolescents are naturally impressionable, and in today’s hyper-connected world, many are exposed to powerful messages that can shape their sense of identity, and consequently, how they feel and behave. What concerns me as a psychotherapist is the speed at which some young people move toward life-altering medical interventions without sufficient exploration of underlying psychological factors. We need to tap the brakes on this,” he said.

He says that many young people experiencing gender dysphoria are also suffering various mental health issues, as the study noted. Specifically, anxiety and/or depression can deeply affect the way a young person perceives themselves, and the rush to finalize their identity with irreversible medical intervention does nothing to treat those issues.

“Parents, educators, and mental health professionals like myself must work together to carefully examine these trends. We need to balance compassion with caution, ensuring children receive the proper support to navigate their feelings without undue pressure or rushed decisions. This is a deeply personal issue for individuals, but we can’t shy away from asking important questions about what’s driving this increase,” Alpert insisted.

Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist, believes that outside influences are more to blame for a child’s gender dysphoria than any mental health problem.

“In most cases, the will of the child has been corrupted by others telling them what’s ‘wrong’ with them and what would make them happy,” she told Fox News Digital. “Social media rewards children for getting hormones and surgery with attention from ‘likes’ and positive comments. They think it’s ‘cool’ that the child is rebelling against society and choosing who they want to be.”

Sierra Marlee

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