Bullying Experience and Self-Perceived Gender Dysphoria among Filipino Teenage Gays and Lesbians

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The study determined the relationship of bullying experiences and the self-perceived gender dysphoria of Filipino teenage gays and lesbians. They express a strong cross-sex identification and oftentimes insist on living in discrimination, being trapped in the wrong body, thus, they make a major decision to undergo hormonal treatment or sex surgery. Failure to do is causing them distress, depression, and low self-esteem. There is no study that supports the mild experience of bullying that may not lead them to experience gender dysphoria.

METHODS

Descriptive-correlational research design using quota snowball sampling technique was utilized to select the participants (N=150). The Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale has an internal consistency of 0.85 for physical victimization, 0.75 for verbal and 0.77 for social victimization; while the Gender Dysphoria Propensity Scale has a Cronbach Alpha of 0.98.

RESULTS

Majority of teenage gays and lesbians are less bullied though there is a minimal difference, verbal bullying remains the most common type of bullying, followed by social bullying, physical bullying, and attack on property. The less bullied are those who have less meaning in their life but are not upset or less affected; they also experienced lesser times of assaults. Averagely bullied are those who experience discrimination and violence in school; they are either frequently bullied or easily upset, but not both. On the other hand, highly bullied are the ones who experience loneliness and often have the lowest self-esteem because of violence experienced in the school. They are the ones who frequently accept unwanted actions.

There is a significant direct correlation between bullying experience and their self-perceived gender dysphoria. Since the majority of gays and lesbians are less bullied, the level of gender dysphoria is only mild. They are mildly disturbed with the incongruence of their mind-body connection.

DISCUSSIONS

Gender dysphoria manifests among children, adolescents, and adults (DSM-5, 2013). Gender dysphoria is usually accompanied by depressed mood, anxiety, and behavior problems, all of which can considerably heighten the level of distress. When a gay or a lesbian experience distressing bullying, the level of gender dysphoria is heightened and they may opt to undergo cross hormonal treatment.