A team of Melbourne researchers has developed a world-first tool to measure gender euphoria.
This scale could be a game-changer for mental health support and research. Experts say it could help clinicians support trans clients in experiencing the positives of gender identity, rather than just managing dysphoria.
Findings show over 90 per cent of trans people experience gender euphoria
The research was led by the Swinburne University of Technology and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), in collaboration with the University of Melbourne.
The study, published in the International Journal of Transgender Health, involved 732 trans participants aged 16 to 79 across Australia.
As part of the TRANSform study, a trans-led project from the Trans Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne, participants were asked about their past experiences with gender euphoria.
The findings were powerful, showing that 96.6 per cent had experienced gender euphoria.
61.6 per cent say they felt it weekly or daily, and 85.6 per cent described it as moderate to very strong over the past year.
Swinburne University
Image: Swinburne University
Gender euphoria scale focuses on the positives
Gender euphoria is the joy a person feels when their gendered experience aligns with their gender identity. Until now there was no reliable way to measure this experience.
The research found that the tool consistently and accurately measures gender euphoria. This makes it a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers looking beyond gender dysphoria and focusing on positive gender experiences.
Charlotte Blacklock, a Swinburne PhD student and MCRI researcher in transgender health, says this scale is a huge step forward.
“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,” she says.
“We have created the first ever scale to assess gender euphoria,” Blacklock continues. “A concept that arose from within the trans community to describe positive feelings associated with being trans.”
Dr. Simone Buzwell from Swinburne says this tool could help shift the focus of mental health care for trans people.
“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.”
Trans Day of Visibility rally 2025
Image: Instagram/Trans Justice Sydney
MCRI Associate Professor Ken Pang expects the scale to be widely used in clinical care.
“The scale may assist mental health workers and clinicians with helping trans patients to experience gender euphoria rather than focussing primarily on avoiding dysphoria,” he says.
“Identifying experiences that lead to gender euphoria could highlight pathways for interventions that improve mental health and facilitate positive gender experiences.”
The research also involved experts from The Royal Children’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne, and Duke University. With this new scale, there’s now a way to measure, and hopefully enhance, the positive experiences of being trans.
A timely step on Trans Day of Visibility
This much-needed positive news comes on Trans Day of Visibility, at a time when trans rights are under intense scrutiny and are being politicised ahead of the upcoming election.
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Laura Koefoed
Laura Koefoed is an experienced journalist based in Sydney, covering a range of topics and issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. She is passionate about writing on politics, social justice, and current affairs, particularly where they intersect with feminism, lesbian identity, and gender diversity.
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