Developmental Progression of Perceived Gender Similarity in Early Adolescence.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine the developmental progression of gender similarity, an important aspect of gender identity, in early adolescence. At 11 (M _age = 11.01) and 14 years of age (M _age = 14.00), 156 youths (77 girls, 76 boys, 2 transgender boys, 1 gender fluid participant) reported on their perceived own-gender and other-gender similarity levels. Latent change score models suggested that mean levels of own-gender similarity remained stable over time while mean levels of other-gender similarity decreased. No gender differences were found in these mean-level trends. Using autoregressive cross-lagged models to investigate individual differences, a cross-over effect emerged for both gender groups, wherein other-gender similarity at age 11 negatively pr

SUBMITTER: Leclerc G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12812365 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature