The trend of transgender identification among college students is declining, with recent analysis suggesting improved mental health may be a contributing factor.
A recent analysis conducted by Eric Kaufmann, a professor of politics at the University of Buckingham, reveals a significant decline in the number of college students identifying as transgender. This trend is based on data collected from 68,000 undergraduates across U.S. college campuses over the past three years.
The findings indicate that only 3.6% of respondents in the 2025 survey identified as a gender other than male or female. This marks a notable decrease from 5.2% in 2024 and 6.8% in both 2022 and 2023. Kaufmann’s analysis suggests that the share of students identifying as transgender has effectively halved in just two years.
In addition to the decline in transgender identification, the report highlights a sharp decrease in “non-conforming sexual identity.” While the percentage of students identifying as gay or lesbian has remained stable, heterosexuality has seen a rise of 10 points since 2023. Furthermore, fewer first-year college students in 2024-2025 identified as “trans or queer” compared to their senior counterparts, a reversal of the trend observed in the previous academic year.
Kaufmann posits that improved mental health among students may be a contributing factor to this decline. He noted that less anxious and depressed students tend to identify less frequently as trans, queer, or bisexual. The shift could also indicate the fading of a trend, akin to the ebb and flow of fashion. Kaufmann remarked that this change appears to have occurred largely independent of shifts in political beliefs and social media usage.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, commented on the study’s intriguing nature but emphasized that it does not clearly identify the causes behind the decline. He raised questions about whether the change could be attributed to a shifting cultural climate or a reduction in political pressure from parents and society. Siegel also speculated that the normalization of diverse identities might have led to an overreaction that is now being dialed back.
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist based in New York City, suggested that this shift may represent a “natural correction.” He noted that for a period, young people were encouraged to label every discomfort, leading some to identify as nonbinary. Alpert argued that the current results do not necessarily indicate a decrease in transgender identification but rather a reduction in nonbinary identification, which he views as distinct.
Alpert further explained that young individuals may be growing weary of the pressure to define every emotion or difference with a specific identity. He believes that the slowing down of this “performance” reflects a growing self-assurance among young people, who are realizing they do not need to announce or label every aspect of their identity to be valid.
As the landscape of gender identity continues to evolve, the implications of these findings warrant further exploration. Kaufmann’s independent report, titled “The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity among Young Americans,” was published by the Centre of Heterodox Social Science and has not undergone peer review. The annual survey, known as the College Free Speech Rankings, is conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which aims to gather students’ opinions on freedom of speech alongside demographic information.
FIRE confirmed that Kaufmann’s analysis utilized six years of demographic data from the survey. The organization noted that while the primary focus of the survey is on student attitudes toward free expression, it also provides insights into demographic trends, as demonstrated by Kaufmann’s work.
As the conversation surrounding gender identity and expression continues, these findings may prompt further research into the factors influencing young people’s self-identification and the broader cultural implications of these trends.
Source: Original article