• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was done to figure out the incidence of Korean adolescents with gender identity problem and homosexual tendency. Self esteem and sexual liberality were also checked to evaluate the relation with these problems. Method : Subjects were 1,748 adolescents (359 middle school boys, 452 middle school girls, 483 high school boys, and 454 high school girls). DSM-IV-TR gender identity disorder criteria, Kinsey's sexual orientation scale, Hudson's short form sexual liberality scale, and Halter's Self-perception profile for children were applied to them. Result : 1) $15\%$ of the middle school boys, $16.7\%$ of the high school boys, $39.4\%$ of the middle school girls, and $40.5\%$ high school girls showed gender identity problem. Incidence of mild problem was more frequent in girls, however severe problem that suggested gender identity disorder was more frequent in boys, especially in high school boys. 2) Gender identity problem group showed lower self esteem than no problem group, especially in the middle school boys (p=0.033) and high school girls (p=0.020). 3) $17\%$ of the middle school boys, $5.4\%$ of the high school boys, $17.7\%$ of the middle school girls, and $12\%$ of the high school girls showed homosexual tendency. The order of more vivid homosexual orientation incidence was as follows ; $3.3\%$ in the middle school girls, $3.1\%$ in the middle school boys, $2.1\%$ in the high school girls, and $1.7\%$ in the high school boys. 4) There was no difference in the score of sexual liberality according to homosexual tendency. In high school girl, self esteem score was lower in homosexual tendency group than that of heterosexual group (p=0.039). 5) Gender identity problem group showed higher incidence of homosexual tendency than that of gender identity formation group (p=0.001). 6) The incidence of sexual identity problem was not changed by age, but homosexual tendency was decreased with age, especially in boys. Conclusion : Adolescents with gender identity problem or homosexual tendency showed low self esteem. Therefore, more attention on systemic evaluation for early detection in school based mental health and psychiatric management for them are needed.