A first-of-its-kind gender euphoria scale study has found, just in time for Trans Day of Visibility (3 March), that an overwhelming majority of trans and non-binary people feel affirmed when allowed to be themselves.

The collaborative study, which helped to create the ground-breaking scale, found that, out of a survey of more than 700 trans and non-binary Australians aged between 16 and 79, 96.6 per cent felt gender euphoria in some capacity.

Researchers from the Swinburne University of Technology, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and the University of Melbourne, used the data to create the gender euphoria scale – an innovative way to measure a trans person’s affirmation with their gender identity.

Out of the participants, over 85 per cent of respondents said they feel moderate to strong gender dysphoria, while 62 per cent said they feel it on a weekly or daily basis.

Participants were selected by researchers as part of the TRANSform study – a research project by the Trans Health Research Group led by trans and non-binary researchers.

Using responses on a handful of questions around the experiences of the trans participants, the academic cohort created 26 items that measure a person’s gender euphoria based on three core themes – social affirmation, self-affirmation, and community connection.

Gender euphoria a ‘key component’ of mental health support

“The gender euphoria scale could be used to help clinicians focus on assisting clients to experience positive aspects of gender identity, rather than focusing on eliminating gender dysphoria,” Dr Simone Buzwell, researcher at Swinburne, said of the project.

Speaking to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News, Transcend Australia chair Tara Laursen described gender euphoria as the sense of joy and affirmation from feeling “right” about your gender identity.

She added that gender euphoria is a “key component” of mental and emotional health for trans and non-binary people – one that isn’t focused on enough.

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“Research has shown that experiencing gender euphoria is associated with lower levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation,” she said. “When trans people are affirmed through their gender – whether through supportive relationships, healthcare, and/or self-expression – it fosters resilience, confidence, and a greater sense of belonging.”

Researchers also added that the study could help advocate for policies that help prolong gender euphoria for trans people, rather than just ensuring that the community survives.

Swinburne PhD student and MCRI trans health researcher Charlotte Blacklock said that it is vital for research like this to “broaden understandings of gender diversity” by focusing on the positives rather than the negatives.