Photo: Little boy or girl running on beach

Doctoral project: To identify as some other gender than the one legally assigned at birth

This qualitative research project explores the everyday experiences of children and youth who identify as some other gender than their legally assigned at birth, as well as those of their parents, with a focus on the gender identity process and the social and societal responses.

Project information

Project name
To identify as some other gender than the one legally assigned at birth – children’s, youths’, and their parents’ lived experiences
Doctoral student
Kristiina Tyni
Main supervisor
Anna Bratt
Assistant supervisors
Idor Svensson; Matilda Wurm, Örebro University
Timetable
1 April 2019–28 Nov 2025
Subject
Clinical psychology (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)

More about the project

This qualitative research project explores the everyday experiences of children and youth who identify as some other gender than their assigned at birth, as well as those of their parents. The aim is to increase knowledge of gender diversity and improve treatment of families who’s gender identities challenge societal norms. By highlighting the voices of families themselves, within a Swedish context, and from a psychological perspective, the project addresses a clear knowledge gap in previous research.

The project will be published through the following research articles, which will also be included in a dissertation:

  1. Tyni, K., Wurm, M., Nordström, T., & Bratt, A. S. (2024). A systematic review and qualitative research synthesis of the lived experiences and coping of transgender and gender diverse youth 18 years or younger. International Journal of Transgender Health, 25(3), 352–388. https://doi. org/10.1080/26895269.2023.2295379
  2. Tyni, K., Wurm, M., & Bratt, A. S. (2024). A thematic analysis of the experiences of prepubertal transgender and gender-diverse children in Sweden. Journal of LGBT Youth, 0(0), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2024.2 347957
  3. Tyni, K., Wurm, M., & Bratt, A. S. (2025). Existential dimensions of the lived experiences of transgender youths 13-16 years in a cisnormative Swedish context. International Journal of Transgender Health, 0(0), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2024.2440864
  4. (In progress) An article on parents’ lived experiences of their child expressing a gender identity other than their legally assigned at birth.