Believe data, not activists: Transgenderism among kids is mostly a fad

Is transgenderism among kids largely a fad?

It certainly looks that way.

Researchers at the Netherlands’ University of Groningen recently released the results of a landmark 15-year study of 2,700 children starting at age 11.

They tracked the gender non-contentedness of these children over the years and found: “In early adolescence, 11% of participants reported gender non-contentedness. The prevalence decreased with age and was 4% at the last follow-up (around age 26).”

The researchers concluded, “Gender non-contentedness, while being relatively common during early adolescence, in general decreases with age and appears to be associated with a poorer self-concept and mental health throughout development.”

In other words, most of the children in the study who were feeling gender dysphoric in their awkward teenage years had shaken that off and adjusted by early adulthood, and their dysphoria was associated with bad self-esteem and mental-health problems.

This is fully at odds with the policy pushing its way through American schools and medical institutions: Kids who declare themselves transgender, no matter the age, need to be “affirmed,” an idea that sometimes leads to children taking hormone blockers or getting surgery to attempt gender transition.

These interventions can have lifelong consequences, but some doctors aren’t even sure if the child should be informed before they take action.

Leaked documents last month from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health found some doctors don’t think disclosing potential risks is necessary.

As The Post reported, practitioners believe telling a 14-year-old about possible fertility consequences is like talking to a “blank wall.”

A child psychologist said it’s “out of their developmental range to understand the extent to which some of these medical interventions are impacting them.”

If children can’t understand the medical consequences of an entirely elective procedure that isn’t necessary to benefit their health or save their life, perhaps it’s best not to do it?

This shouldn’t be controversial.

via nypost.com

Karol Markowicz.

It's a good thing we have studies like this. Otherwise, we would never know.