Childhood separation anxiety in Iranian adult males and females with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity/expression
Creators: name: Sadr-Bazzaz, Mostafa
name: Sadeghi, Mohammad Javad
name: Vasey, Paul L.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: This research, conducted in Iran, examined whether recalled childhood separation anxiety varied with sex, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Iranian cisgender gynephilic males (<i>n</i> = 248), cisgender ambiphilic males (<i>n</i> = 104), cisgender androphilic males (<i>n</i> = 310), transgender androphilic males (<i>n</i> = 102), cisgender androphilic females (<i>n</i> = 234), cisgender ambiphilic females (<i>n</i> = 94), cisgender gynephilic females (<i>n</i> = 31), and transgender gynephilic females (<i>n</i> = 119) rated their recalled traits of childhood separation anxiety (i.e., Parent Separation and Parent Worry) between 6 and 12 years of age. For Parent Separation subscale, cisgender ambiphilic and androphilic males scored intermediate between cisgender gynephilic males and transgender androphilic males. In females, transgender gynephilic females scored lower than all other groups except cisgender gynephilic females. For Parent Worry subscale, only transgender androphilic males exhibited an elevated mean score compared to other male groups, while no between-group difference was found in females. Consistent with previous reports, our findings from Iran indicate positive associations exist in males among recalled childhood separation anxiety, androphilic sexual orientation, and feminine gender identity/expression. In addition, this study provides evidence that recalled childhood separation anxiety is lowered in transgender gynephilic females. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Cross-cultural studies suggest that cisgender and transgender androphilic males recall higher traits of childhood separation anxiety compared to gynephilic males.Elevated childhood separation anxiety can be a predisposition for other psychological comorbidities in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (e.g. Panic Disorder).Elevated childhood separation anxiety may be a developmental precursor for prosocial tendencies in adulthood. Cross-cultural studies suggest that cisgender and transgender androphilic males recall higher traits of childhood separation anxiety compared to gynephilic males. Elevated childhood separation anxiety can be a predisposition for other psychological comorbidities in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (e.g. Panic Disorder). Elevated childhood separation anxiety may be a developmental precursor for prosocial tendencies in adulthood. <b>What this topic adds:</b>This study provides further support for the universal correlation between recalled childhood separation anxiety and same-sex sexual orientation in males.New empirical data is presented with respect to the correlation between recalled childhood separation anxiety, same-sex attraction, and gender identity/expression in females.This study can enhance mental health care providers’ understanding of the unique developmental pathways of same-sex attracted individuals who vary in their gender identity/expression. This study provides further support for the universal correlation between recalled childhood separation anxiety and same-sex sexual orientation in males. New empirical data is presented with respect to the correlation between recalled childhood separation anxiety, same-sex attraction, and gender identity/expression in females. This study can enhance mental health care providers’ understanding of the unique developmental pathways of same-sex attracted individuals who vary in their gender identity/expression.