Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale: Validation in a Sample of Italian LGB + and Heterosexual Young Adults

Baiocco, Roberto; Antoniucci, Chiara; Basili, Emanuele; Pistella, Jessica; Favini, Ainzara; Martin, Carol; Pastorelli, Concetta

INTRODUCTION: The present article describes two interrelated studies that examine gender typicality in young adulthood using a new dual-identity approach. METHODS: Participants were recruited online from March 2020 to February 2021 and reported their perceived similarity to own- and other-gender peers as a way to assess their gender typicality. In study 1, the authors conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test and validate the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale in a sample of Italian young adults (n = 571; M(age) = 23.9; SD = 3.60). The authors documented the configural, metric, scalar measurement invariance, and validity. In study 2, the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale adopted in study 1 was used to assess the distribution of different typologies of gender typicality in another sample of Italian young adults who vary in gender and sexual orientation (n = 1126; M(age) = 24.3; SD = 3.51). RESULTS: Results confirmed the structural validity of the Perceived Similarity to Gender Groups Scale, revealing the two-factor structure of the scale. Moreover, results of cluster analysis found different typologies of self-perceptions of gender typicality. CONCLUSION: Both studies emphasize the relevance of studying gender typicality in young adulthood through a dual-identity approach, highlighting the relevance of gender and sexual orientations. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: The use of the dual-identity approach has significant social and clinical implications as it represents a more flexible and representative model of the complexity of gender typicality. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13178-021-00631-5.