Validation of the Polish Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum

Overview

The Polish adaptation of the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS-PL) was validated in two studies involving over 1,300 Polish adults. The scale demonstrated a three-factor structure, good internal consistency, stability over time, and excellent screening accuracy for gender dysphoria, providing an inclusive tool for assessing gender diversity beyond binary frameworks.

Background

Gender diversity is increasingly recognized as a natural human variation rather than a pathology, reflected in modern diagnostic frameworks like ICD-11 and DSM-5. Despite evidence linking gender dysphoria to mental health challenges, clinical assessment tools in Polish remain limited and often binary-focused. The existing Polish tool, GIDYQ-AA-PL, is restricted by its binary gender conceptualization and grammatical forms, limiting its applicability for nonbinary individuals. The Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS) offers a gender-neutral alternative, previously validated in multiple languages, and was adapted here to address the assessment gap in Polish gender-diverse populations.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Confirmatory factor analysis rejected the original two-factor model, identifying a three-factor structure: Gender dysphoria, Puberty-related distress, and Gender affirmation.
• The UGDS-GS-PL demonstrated good internal consistency and reliable measurement stability over a three-week period.
• The Gender dysphoria subscale showed excellent screening accuracy with an AUC of 0.97, while Puberty-related distress had good accuracy (AUC = 0.81), and Gender affirmation showed limited accuracy (AUC = 0.62).
• The scale effectively captures stable individual differences across the full gender spectrum, including binary transgender, nonbinary, and cisgender individuals.
• The Polish UGDS-GS provides a gender-neutral assessment tool overcoming limitations of existing binary-focused instruments like the GIDYQ-AA-PL.

Clinical Implications

The UGDS-GS-PL offers clinicians a psychometrically sound, inclusive instrument to assess gender dysphoria across diverse gender identities in Polish-speaking populations. Its strong screening accuracy supports its use in identifying individuals experiencing clinically significant distress related to gender incongruence, facilitating timely access to Gender Affirming Care. The scale's gender-neutral language enhances applicability for nonbinary individuals, addressing a critical gap in current assessment tools.

Conclusion

The Polish adaptation of the UGDS-GS is a valid, reliable, and inclusive measure of gender dysphoria that transcends binary gender frameworks. It represents a valuable resource for improving clinical assessment and care for gender-diverse individuals in Poland.

References

1. Ziminska et al. 2025 -- Validation of the Polish Adaptation of the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale - Gender Spectrum Questionnaire