Until now, there has been no reliable way to measure this experience, which could support trans mental health

The joy a person feels when their gendered experience aligns with their gender identity, can now be reliably measured thanks to a new tool developed by a research team in Melbourne, Australia.

The study, led by Swinburne University of Technology and Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, has the potential to help medical professionals support trans people's mental health.

What is gender euphoria? Gender euphoria is a positive feeling connected to someone's gender identity, expression, or affirmation. It is the opposite of gender dysphoria – the feeling of discomfort or unease when one's external or perceived gender doesn't match their internal sense of gender.

The scale was developed based on qualitative research and a review of existing tools for measuring related psychological constructs in trans adults. A preliminary scale was piloted with a trans community advisory group, then further refined and tested with a larger group. A subgroup then repeated the scale two weeks later to assess reliability.

The initial scale was tested by 664 trans poeple aged 16–79 years. Analysis then produced a final 26-item Gender Euphoria Scale (GES) comprising of three subscales: social affirmation, self-affirmation, and community connection.

The GES was found to be a reliable and consistent tool to measure gender euphoria in trans individuals and is likely to be of value in both research and clinical settings.

Swinburne PhD student researcher in transgender health, Charlotte Blacklock, said: "There is growing recognition of the need to broaden understandings of gender diversity by exploring and highlighting the joyful aspects of trans people's lives."

Dr Simone Buzwell from Swinburne noted that it offers a valuable tool for professionals and patients: "The gender euphoria scale could be used to help clinicians focus on assisting clients to experience positive aspects of gender identity, rather than focussing on eliminating gender dysphoria."