53% Of Mothers Of Boys With Reported Gender Dysphoria Meet Criteria For Borderline Personality Disorder

When you see the social media content in which parents show off their "trans" children, the mother always has a certain look about her. Maybe she dyed her hair blue, she is clearly liberal, and she posts other content about mental health. We already know that women who identify as liberal already have a propensity for mental illness, especially when compared to women who identify as moderate or conservative. But a 1991 study shows that there might even be a strong connection between mothers of kids who supposedly struggle with gender dysphoria and mental disorders like borderline personality disorder. The study was titled "Mothers of Boys with Gender Identity Disorder: A Comparison of Matched Controls," and although it's a couple of decades old, it gives a window into what is really going on with parents whose children suddenly claim to be trans. If this is the research that was uncovered in the 1990s, imagine how much more pronounced this research would be today.

53% of Mothers of Boys with Reported Gender Dysphoria Meet the Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder

The complexity and interconnectedness of mental health and gender identity have been the subject of ongoing scientific research. A pilot study presents intriguing findings about the correlation between maternal mental health and the emergence of gender identity disorder (GID) in male children.

The study compared mothers of boys with GID to mothers of typical boys, focusing on psychopathology and child-rearing attitudes. It revealed a greater presence of depressive symptoms and borderline personality disorder (BPD) among mothers of boys with GID. In fact, 53% of these mothers met the diagnosis for BPD or exhibited depressive symptoms, compared to a significantly lower 6% in the control group.

In addition, the mothers of boys with GID were found to foster a more symbiotic relationship with their children, seemingly discouraging the development of autonomy. This suggests that parenting practices and attitudes might have an effect on the child's gender identity development. Characteristics of a symbiotic relationship include dependency, an "inability to function without participation or consent of the other," difficulty separating (even "extreme" emotional distress when separations are imminent or merely being considered), disapproval of relationships with others, and "consistent unsolicited interventions in other’s actions and the expectation that others should always fulfill one’s wishes."

Boys with GID experience distress about their gender, demonstrating a preference for stereotypically female activities and expressing the desire to be of the opposite gender. Symptoms of GID usually emerge between ages 2 and 4, and many boys with GID go on to identify as homosexual in adulthood. Interestingly, the study also noted that boys with GID commonly exhibit a temperament that avoids rough and tumble play.

While the causes of GID remain elusive, this study posits a connection with maternal psychopathology and particular child-rearing attitudes. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and BPD among mothers of boys with GID invites speculation about the role of maternal mental health in the development of GID in boys.

Depression in mothers is known to contribute to the development of depression, separation anxiety, and attention deficit disorder in children. Similarly, BPD in mothers is a known risk factor in the development of the same disorder in adolescents. The prevalence of these conditions among mothers of boys with GID suggests a connection between maternal mental health and GID.

The pilot study views maternal psychopathology as one factor among several potentially contributing to the development of GID in boys. In fact, it outlines a biopsychodevelopmental model for the origins of GID, where complex interactions of biological, psychological, and cognitive developmental factors occur. This model incorporates various elements such as a predisposition to anxiety, an unusual capacity for positive emotional connection, an ability to imitate, and various sensory sensitivities in the child. Alongside these, parental difficulties in affect regulation interact during a crucial period in the child's mental representational ability to potentially lead to GID.

There was a significant enough correlation between mothers diagnosed with BPD and their sons with gender dysphoria, particularly in categories of unstable work or school history, expressions of achievement, behavior destructive to self or others, chronic experiences of depression, and difficulty in maintaining stable relationships.

This study underscores the importance of continued research in this area, not only for the understanding of GID's origins but also for improving preventive measures, early intervention strategies, and treatment planning. We simply need more research to be conducted in order to learn more about mothers in today's age with sons that supposedly have gender dysphoria.

But we've seen many cases on social media and in Hollywood of mothers who proudly parade around their sons who claim to be trans, such as Megan Fox, whose three sons dress like girls and have long hair. Actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis, Charlize Theron, and Gabrielle Union all declare that their son is a "trans girl," and none of these women seem to be exactly normal. These are the women who are extremely progressive and promote liberal values, which makes them much more likely to struggle with a mental illness. So perhaps this study was ahead of its time.

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