Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression

Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Publisher

Sadrbazzaz M¹ ; Sadeghi MJ² ; Vasey PL³

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1. Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
2. Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3. Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Source: Clinical Psychologist Published:2025

Abstract

Objective: This research, conducted in Iran, examined whether recalled childhood separation anxiety varied with sex, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Method: Iranian cisgender gynephilic males (n = 248), cisgender ambiphilic males (n = 104), cisgender androphilic males (n = 310), transgender androphilic males (n = 102), cisgender androphilic females (n = 234), cisgender ambiphilic females (n = 94), cisgender gynephilic females (n = 31), and transgender gynephilic females (n = 119) rated their recalled traits of childhood separation anxiety (i.e., Parent Separation and Parent Worry) between 6 and 12 years of age. Result: For Parent Separation subscale, cisgender ambiphilic and androphilic males scored intermediate between cisgender gynephilic males and transgender androphilic males. In females, transgender gynephilic females scored lower than all other groups except cisgender gynephilic females. For Parent Worry subscale, only transgender androphilic males exhibited an elevated mean score compared to other male groups, while no between-group difference was found in females. Conclusion: Consistent with previous reports, our findings from Iran indicate positive associations exist in males among recalled childhood separation anxiety, androphilic sexual orientation, and feminine gender identity/expression. In addition, this study provides evidence that recalled childhood separation anxiety is lowered in transgender gynephilic females. © 2025 Australian Psychological Society.

Experts (# of related papers)

Zahra Hooshyari (1)

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi (1)

Style	Citing Format
MLA	Sadrbazzaz M, Sadeghi MJ, Vasey PL. "Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression." Clinical Psychologist, vol. , no. , 2025, pp. -.
APA	Sadrbazzaz M, Sadeghi MJ, Vasey PL (2025). Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression. Clinical Psychologist, (), -.
Chicago	Sadrbazzaz M, Sadeghi MJ, Vasey PL. "Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression." Clinical Psychologist , no. (2025): -.
Harvard	Sadrbazzaz M, Sadeghi MJ, Vasey PL (2025) 'Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression', Clinical Psychologist, (), pp. -.
Vancouver	Sadrbazzaz M, Sadeghi MJ, Vasey PL. Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression. Clinical Psychologist. 2025;():-.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Sadrbazzaz M and Sadeghi MJ and Vasey PL}, title = {Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression}, journal = {Clinical Psychologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {-}, year = {2025} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Sadrbazzaz M AU - Sadeghi MJ AU - Vasey PL TI - Childhood Separation Anxiety in Iranian Adult Males and Females With Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression JO - Clinical Psychologist VL - IS - SP - EP - PY - 2025 ER -

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Abstract