Navigating Identity Today: Developmental and Sociocultural Dimensions of Gender Dysphoria in Youth

Adolescent identity development and experiences of gender dysphoria in youth unfold within the context of interconnected biological, psychological, relational, and sociocultural processes. Gender dysphoria, understood as distress arising from an experienced incongruence between one’s sense of self in terms of gender and one’s natal sex, is heterogeneous in its presentation, meaning, and developmental trajectory. Current research highlights the potential relevance of family and peer relationships, minority stress, mental health, embodiment, sexuality, and gender-related care itself.Important questions remain about how gender dysphoria develops and changes over time, and how identity formation may now be shaped by social, cultural and technological factors that differ from those experienced by previous generations. Clinicians also need to consider how clinically significant distress can be understood within the broader psychological and developmental context of the individual. Emerging research suggests that the internet and social media may play a role in these processes, while the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in identity development remains largely unexplored. A more integrated investigation is needed to better understand the connections between development, sociocultural context, embodied experience, and clinical practice.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the intersections between adolescent identity development and youth gender dysphoria in the 21st century. It seeks to examine how developmental and psychological processes intersect with contemporary sociocultural contexts in relation to identity formation and gender dysphoria in youth. Contributions may examine how identity and gender dysphoria develop and acquire meaning within the lives of individual youth, the factors associated with different developmental trajectories and mental health outcomes, and how a fuller understanding of adolescent development can inform clinical assessment, psychotherapy, and gender-related care.Recognizing substantial individual and cultural variation, this Research Topic welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Adolescent identity development in contemporary social and cultural contexts- Youth development and the emergence and trajectories of gender dysphoria- Puberty, embodiment, body image, sexuality, and psychosexual development- Mental health, neurodevelopment, and co-occurring psychological difficulties in adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria- Family, peer, educational, and relational influences on identity development and gender dysphoria- Sociocultural influences on identity development and gender-related experiences, including changing social norms, minority stress, stigma, discrimination, belonging, and resilience- Changing concepts and language relating to gender, identity, and distress, and their influence on self-understanding and clinical practice- Social media, online environments, artificial intelligence, and digitally mediated identity development- Clinical assessment, developmental formulation, and understanding the individual in the contemporary context- Psychotherapy, therapeutic process, and the role of the clinician when working with adolescents in development- Gender-related care, clinical decision-making, and ethical, developmentally informed practice Topic editors: Paul Garcia-Ryan Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85932/navigating-identity-today-developmental-and-sociocultural-dimensions-of-gender-dysphoria-in-youth