The concept was brought into the spotlight by researcher Lisa Littman, who published a landmark study in 2018. The study suggested that the condition occurs in the context of social influences.

However, those on the other side of the issue point out that the ROGD concept lacks empirical evidence and insists that symptoms of gender dysphoria are caused primarily by biology and not societal forces.

Researchers sent a letter to an academic journal in which they challenged the findings of a study supposedly debunking the social contagion aspect.

Manhattan Institute fellow, Leor Sapir, along with researchers Lisa Littman and Michael Biggs, published a letter to the editor in the academic journal, Archives of Sexual Behavior, last year criticizing research conducted by University of California adolescent psychiatrist Jack Turban.

Turban published a study in March 2023 based on the data from a 2015 survey called the U.S. Transgender Survey, in which he claims to find evidence against “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD), or the idea that adolescents with no history before puberty of gender distress experience gender confusion.

Turban and his team argued that what appears to parents to be a sudden onset of gender dysphoria or trans identity is really just a late disclosure of a previously formed trans identity and internalized gender issues, which in turn, they believe, disproves the existence of ROGD.  

“The main argument made against ROGD is that when parents say, ‘My kid just suddenly came out as trans at age 14, it was out of the blue… activists claim, ‘No, no, the kid always knew she was trans, but she just kept it a secret from her parents for many years and just disclosed it when she was 14,’” Sapir told Fox News Digital.

“This ties into the other claims about transgender identity being innate, possibly even biological… which in turn justifies the whole medical approach to treating gender-related distress in kids,” he added.

Sapir and his fellow researchers looked at the data Turban analyzed to come up with their hypothesis and believe the study can be refuted, alleging the data actually shows that what he claims – that transgender identity is innate and possibly even biological – is not in fact true.

Over recent years, the percentage of children identifying as transgender has risen drastically – especially among girls. This increase has prompted speculation that social influences are contributing to the issue of gender dysphoria in minors.

There have also been studies aside from Littman’s indicating that the uptick in gender dysphoria cases among children is the result of social contagion.

The survey also revealed significant increases in other sexual orientations within the LGBTQ+ community. Critics argue that the idea of LGBT identification as a social contagion is controversial, but social pressure is acknowledged in other areas of behavior and lifestyle:

New survey data from Brown University’s student newspaper provides further evidence that the increase in LGBT identification is driven by social pressures.

The latest data show that between 2010 and 2023, identification as LGBTQ+ has almost tripled among the student body at Brown (from 14% in 2010 saying they were not heterosexual to 38% now). “The Herald’s Spring 2023 poll found that 38% of students do not identify as straight — over five times the national rate ,” The Brown Daily Herald reported. “Over the past decade, LGBTQ+ identification has increased across the nation, with especially sharp growth at Brown.”

Other sexual orientations have seen massive increases. “Since Fall 2010, Brown’s LGBTQ+ population has expanded considerably. The gay or lesbian population has increased by 26% and the percentage of students identifying as bisexual has increased by 232%,” the student newspaper reported. “Students identifying as other sexual orientations within the LGBTQ+ community have increased by 793%.”

Other studies have also shown that the rise in folks identifying as transgender, in particular, is largely influenced by society and environment. In her book “Irreversible Damage,” author Abigail Shrier referred to a 2018 United Kingdom study showing a 4,400 percent increase in the number of teenage girls seeking out gender treatments.

At this point, it is difficult to argue that social forces are not playing a significant role in the number of minors who are experiencing gender dysphoria. Yet, those on the other side insist that those suddenly identifying as trans were simply hiding it the whole time before they finally became comfortable discussing the issue.

Yet, with schools actively promoting transgenderism, as well as the overall LGBTQ agenda, it is clear that most of this contagion is happening on school campuses nationwide. Indeed, schools have been inculcating children with progressive gender ideology for years before it finally came to light a few years ago.

Many schools not only encourage children to embrace other gender identities, they even help to facilitate “social transitions” without parents’ knowledge or consent. In many cases, school districts have imposed policies instructing teachers to conceal a child’s gender dysphoria issues from parents.

Proponents of the agenda for trans children are actively trying to downplay or deflect from the very real consequences for minors who wind up undergoing “gender-affirming care.” The claim that ROGD isn’t real is just another attempt to justify subjecting children to puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and even surgery. Unfortunately, many more people are going to suffer before America wakes up and realizes what is happening to these children.