Deenz Gender Dysphoria Scale (DGDS)

Gender Dysphoria Test is the interactive version of the Deenz Gender Dysphoria Scale (DGDS).

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate thoughts, feelings, preferences, and experiences related to gender identity, personal expression, body-related perceptions, social alignment, and self-acceptance. The scale was developed to measure tendencies associated with subclinical gender dysphoria traits and explore how gender-related distress or discomfort may affect emotional well-being and daily life.

Gender dysphoria refers to the distress that may occur when an individual's experienced or expressed gender differs from the sex assigned at birth. The concept replaced the earlier diagnostic term "gender identity disorder" in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The change reflected a shift away from viewing gender diversity as a disorder and toward understanding the distress that some individuals may experience regarding gender identity, expression, or physical characteristics.

Individuals experiencing gender-related distress may encounter emotional discomfort, uncertainty about identity, dissatisfaction with aspects of their appearance, social challenges, or difficulties expressing themselves authentically. The severity and nature of these experiences vary considerably between individuals and across different stages of life.

Deenz Gender Dysphoria Scale was developed to evaluate five broad dimensions associated with gender-related experiences: Emotional Discomfort, Expression Preference, Social Alignment, Body Feelings, and Identity & Self-Acceptance. These dimensions help provide insight into how individuals perceive themselves, express their identity, relate to others, and experience comfort with their appearance and personal identity.

The assessment consists of 25 statements and typically takes 3–5 minutes to complete. Participants respond to statements describing personal feelings, body-related experiences, identity preferences, self-perceptions, social interactions, and emotional reactions. For each statement, participants select the response that best reflects their typical thoughts, feelings, or experiences.

This assessment is intended for adolescents and adults who wish to explore experiences related to gender identity, personal expression, body-related feelings, and self-acceptance. Participation in this assessment is completely anonymous. No personally identifying information is collected or stored. This assessment is designed for educational, research, screening, and self-reflection purposes only.

The assessment contains 25 items rated on a five-point agreement scale. Some items are reverse-scored to reduce response bias.

Results include an Overall Index Score and scores for five dimensions:

• Emotional Discomfort
• Expression Preference
• Social Alignment
• Body Feelings
• Identity & Self-Acceptance

Dimension scores are standardized to a 0–100 scale and interpreted using qualitative categories.

Overall results are classified into five interpretive ranges:

• Minimal
• Mild
• Moderate
• High
• Very High

Sometimes I wish my body looked different.

I feel happy with the way I look.

I like trying clothes or hairstyles that feel fun to me.

I feel okay in the clothes I usually wear.

If I could, I would experiment with my appearance.

I like dressing in ways that show who I am.

I enjoy mixing different styles or accessories.

I usually wear what people expect me to wear.

Sometimes I like clothes or styles that are unusual for me.

I feel fine with the way I usually dress.

I like spending time with all kinds of people.

I feel comfortable with friends who are different from me.

Sometimes I enjoy activities with people of a different gender than me.

I don’t worry about whether games or activities are for boys or girls.

I feel happy when I talk or play with friends.

Sometimes I dream about being someone else.

I feel good being myself.

If someone calls me by a different name or pronoun, it feels strange.

I feel fine being called by my usual name or pronoun.

I sometimes imagine myself in a different role or character.

Sometimes I feel different from others around me.

I feel proud of who I am.

I sometimes feel unsure about what I like or enjoy.

I feel happy when people listen to me or are kind.

I feel sad when people don’t understand me.