(PS1-B42) Characterizing Diverse Gender Profiles: A Multidimensional Exploration of the Gender Spectrum Using Latent Profile Analysis

Background: The prevalence of individuals identifying as a gender minority has steadily increased over the past decade. According to Gallup, 5.6% of US-residing adults identified as a gender minority in 2020 compared to 3.5% in 2012. Given an increasing awareness of gender diversity within society, quantitative methods that move beyond a binary and unidimensional framework of gender are necessary. Using multiple categorical and continuous indices of gender experiences, the current study utilized latent profile analysis (LPA) to develop and cross-validate a framework for characterizing the full spectrum of diverse gender groups. 

Method: A sample of 2404 respondents (79% white, 40% heterosexual, 20% gender minority) completed online surveys assessing the following indices utilized in the LPA: (1) sex assigned at birth, (2) gender identity, (3) gender expression, (4) engagement in gender roles, (5) transition experiences (when applicable), and (6) gender fluidity. Additional qualitative narratives about respondents’ gender experiences were collected to inform each extracted latent profile. The following demographic and individual outcomes were also measured: (1) outness, (2) exposure to microaggressions, (3) internalized shame, (4) individual wellbeing and distress (e.g., depressive symptoms, suicide attempts), and (5) missed days of work. 

Results: Latent profile analysis yielded a 7-group solution: (1) strongly aligned masculine, (2) strongly aligned feminine, (3) moderately aligned masculine, (4) moderately aligned feminine, (5) aligned girlflux, (6) aligned non-binary/agender, and (7) aligned fluid individuals. Neither gender minority nor cisgender individuals formed their own separate latent classes. Instead, respondents spanned all of the gender classes extracted, highlighting that cisgender respondents and individuals whose internal gender identities do not match their sex assigned at birth can experience the full spectrum of possible gender experiences. Group comparisons also revealed mental health disparities among groups that were not strongly feminine or strongly masculine aligned. For instance, non-binary/agender, fluid, and girlflux aligned respondents reported higher rates of seeking therapy/counselling, microaggression exposure, internalized shame, depressive symptoms, and previous suicide attempts compared to participants who were strongly masculine or strongly feminine aligned.

Conclusions: The results of this study offer insights into the unique mental health challenges faced by gender minorities and provides a statistical framework for combining multiple measures of gender experiences. Statistical methods such as LPA offer promising avenues for capturing the highly diverse, phenomenologically rich, and multidimensional nature of gender.