INVITATION TO DETRANSITIONERS AND DESISTERS

TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY

"The developmental pathways of desisters and detransitioners: A mixed-methods study of biopsychosocial factors involved in gender transition, desistance, or detransition-related experiences among previously transgender-identified individuals"

PARTICIPANTS:

Individuals who identified as transgender for at least 6 months

but stopped identifying as transgender and stopped

seeking gender transition at least 6 months ago.

More specifically:

Desisters: Individuals who once identified as transgender, non-binary or other gender

identities outside their birth sex, who socially detransitioned (e.g., changed their

name, pronouns, physical presentation), and no longer identify outside their birth sex

identity. Desisters have not undergone any medical or surgical treatments.

Detransitioners: Individuals who have initiated medical and/or surgical transition

(e.g., puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, mastectomy, etc.) and later chose to stop

or reverse their effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

This study aims to examine the pathways of individuals who previously identified as

transgender but later chose to stop or seek to reverse their gender transition (desisters

and detransitioners), explore the biopsychosocial factors involved in their identity

development during pre-transition, transition, and desistance or detransition, as well as

their current experiences and biopsychosocial functioning.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

The findings from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the

experiences of individuals who transition, desist, or detransition. The information

collected may be of great help in advancing science-based healthcare for individuals.

DATA COLLECTION:

Data will be collected via an electronic questionnaire through the online survey tool

LimeSurvey.

A brief, individual online meeting will be held prior to participation to verify the

eligibility of potential participants. This meeting will not be recorded, and attendance

will be confidential, known only to the researchers. Any information gathered during

this process will be used exclusively for screening purposes.

Eligible participants will be provided with a link to the questionnaire. The

questionnaire can be completed at the participants' convenience and does not have to

be finished in one sitting—responses can be saved and resumed later.

For participants who find it easier to express themselves verbally rather than in

writing, and who would like to elaborate further on their written answers or discuss

any other aspect of the topic, there is an option to contact the main researcher to

schedule an online interview. This is completely optional and based on the participant's

personal preferences.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

All data collected in this research will be used exclusively for scientific and research

purposes.

Responses will remain completely anonymous, and all aspects of participants'

involvement will be kept confidential. The data collected through the online survey

will not be linked to the identity of the respondents. Answers will be analyzed at the

group level, and in the dissemination of research results—both in this study and in any

subsequent journal publications—all identifiable information will be removed or

altered to ensure anonymity.

Participation in this research is entirely voluntary. Respondents may withdraw from the

study at any time without repercussions, even after completing the questionnaire. In

such cases, all their data will be permanently deleted.

Before completing the questionnaire, participants are required to provide informed

consent for their participation and for the potential publication of findings based on

anonymized responses. For minor participants (under age 18), informed consent signed

by both parents or guardians will be required before conducting

the online eligibility screening interview and participating in the study.

Participants and/or their parents/guardians will have the opportunity to share concerns,

ask questions, and establish a line of communication with the researchers for any

queries or doubts at any point—before, during, or after completing the questionnaire.

If you think you are eligible to participate in this study and are willing to, please email

franusicl@gmail.com

If you are not eligible to participate in this study but know someone who might be,

please feel free to forward this invitation.

For any further information, questions, concerns, or clarifications, please email

franusicl@gmail.com

This research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Salesian Pontifical

University of Rome under Protocol Number FSE-CSF562-10 gennaio 2025 and complies

with the university's research ethics requirements.

For any concerns, please email

formella@unisal.it

For information on your GDPR rights as a research subject click here.

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