INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS

The study is approved by King's College London Psychiatry, Nursing & Midwifery Research Ethics Subcommittee. REC Reference Number: HR-16/17-4677. YOU CAN PRINT OFF THIS INFORMATION SHEET



What is the purpose of this study?

This study is developing a new questionnaire to assess childhood experiences relating to gender experiences, including about preferences or characteristics that do not conform to stereotypical gender expectations and experiences relating to gender identity. We are developing a more in-depth assessment than previous questionnaires to get a better understanding of these kinds of childhood experiences. We will use this questionnaire to investigate how different aspects of such childhood experiences relate to each other, and if these experiences vary across adults with different characteristics such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or mental health problems. We need adults from a wide range of backgrounds and with different experiences to take part, including people with or without any experience of issues relating to their gender identity. It should take you approximately 30 minutes to complete this questionnaire.



Do I have to take part?

Taking part in this study is optional. You can stop at any time by closing the web browser if you change your mind after starting the survey. Data analysis will take place in more than one stage, the first of which is likely to be at the end of June 2018.



What will happen to me if I take part?

Taking part involves completing an online survey. You will be asked to complete questions from our new questionnaires as well as questions about other childhood experiences and things about you, such as your age and whether or not you have experienced a mental health problem. We have to ask some questions that are similar to each other, to check that our new questionnaires are good enough and to work out which are the best items to use. So some of the items may seem to asking similar things but in slightly different ways.



What are the possible benefits and risks of taking part?

Completing the study is not likely to provide any direct benefit to you as an individual. Some of the questions relate to sensitive issues such as difficult childhood experiences, including abuse or feeling distressed about one’s gender. You are not asked to provide any details – the questions simply have multiple-choice response options. You may also choose not to answer certain questions if you would prefer not to. Thinking about these issues may be upsetting. Information sources of support is provided below, at the end of the survey and on the pages that ask about particularly difficult issues. You can also choose to stop doing the survey if you are feeling upset.