Gender dysphoria in childhood: Diagnostic questions and relational aspects. A narrative review of literature

Gender dysphoria refers to a condition of clinically significant distress associated with the incongruence between the experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender at birth (APA – American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Through a narrative review of the literature about the last twenty years, the work describes the topic of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents highlighting three specific issues: the psychodiagnostic field, the relational context that involves the significant others like family and the peer group, and the related psychological well-being. This review suggests possible factors of protection and prevention of discomfort associated with gender dysphoria during childhood.