Gender identity and its links to other aspects of psychological functioning in adolescence

Abstract

Based on the lack of attention to the problem of gender identity and its links to psychological difficulties and well-being in adolescence, this study was designed to address the issue by applying a contemporary multidimensional approach to gender identity. The study aims to evaluate the links that particular aspects of gender identity have with important indicators of psychological difficulties and well-being in adolescence. The results of the study contribute to the field of research in several ways. Firstly, the study empirically extends the multidimensional understanding of gender identity to the period of middle- to late-adolescence. Secondly, it allows identifying the direction and strength of unique links between the dimensions of gender identity and important indicators of adolescent psychological difficulties and well-being. Thirdly, the results allow evaluating the extent to which a given set of gender-identity dimensions may contribute to explaining particular difficulties and aspects of well-being in adolescence. The results of the study also provide support for gender invariance of identified links.