Perceptions of Support Among Transgender and Gender-Expansive Adolescents and Their Parents

Hale, Arthur E.; Chertow, Solana Y.; Weng, Yingjie; Tabuenca, Andrea; Aye, Tandy

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.11.021

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Using GDY's chosen name and pronouns was the most common response for ways in which parents/caregivers and other adults can demonstrate support, which is consistent with previous research (Hale et al, 2021). However, for parents, using the young person's chosen name and pronouns may be one of the most difficult adjustments following the disclosure of a gender diverse identity (Hale et al, 2021). Given the potential for gender affirming communication to act as a resilience factor for mental health (Tankersley et al, 2021), it is critical that adults who are parents/caregivers of GDY or work with this population honor the young person's gender through use of the correct name and pronouns.…”

Section: Supportive Responsessupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Tangible or received support is often situational and given in response to a specific event during a specific time frame (Barrera, 2000; Thoits, 1986; Uchino, 2009). Tangible support for SGD YA could include connecting the young adult with community resources, educating others about SGD identities, advocating on their behalf, and using the young adult’s chosen name and pronouns (Chrisler, 2017; Hale et al, 2021; Roe, 2017; van Bergen et al, 2021). Emotional support, which occurs when someone “shows and expresses concern, care, and reassurance” (Weine & Siddiqui, 2009, p. 426), is less tangible than other types of support but equally beneficial.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Emotional support, which occurs when someone “shows and expresses concern, care, and reassurance” (Weine & Siddiqui, 2009, p. 426), is less tangible than other types of support but equally beneficial. Emotional support for SDG YA may include expressing approval of SGD identities, affection, and unconditional love, being emotionally available for conversations about sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and envisioning a positive future for the young person (Chrisler, 2017; Hale et al, 2021; Le et al, 2016; Roe, 2017; van Bergen et al, 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults’ Perception of Behaviors that are Supportive and Unsupportive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities

Bosse

Katz-Wise

Chiodo

2022

Journal of Adolescent Research

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To explore specific responses that sexual and gender diverse young adults (SGD YA) perceive to be supportive and unsupportive of sexual orientation and gender identity by caregivers and other adults following identity disclosure. SGD YA ( N = 101), ages 18 to 25 years ( M = 21.2) were predominantly White (83.1%), non-Hispanic (89.1%), assigned female at birth (82.2%). The majority (97.8%) were sexually diverse (e.g., queer, pansexual, lesbian, gay, asexual, bisexual) and half (50%) were gender diverse (e.g. transgender, agender, genderqueer, nonbinary). Participants completed an online survey. This analysis is focused on participants’ responses to open-ended questions regarding responses they perceived to be supportive and unsupportive of their SGD identity/identities. Content analysis of participants’ open-ended survey responses was conducted using a combination of inductive and deductive coding. Six themes emerged for both supportive responses (communication, actions, acceptance, open-mindedness, unconditional love, and advocacy) and unsupportive responses (distancing, hostility, minimizing, controlling, blaming, and bumbling). For some themes, different sub-themes emerged based on identity. Parents/caregivers as well as other adults in the lives of SGD YA can implement specific responses to demonstrate support for sexual orientation and gender identity with the potential to improve the mental health of SGD YA.

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Section: Supportive Responsessupporting

confidence: 89%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults’ Perception of Behaviors that are Supportive and Unsupportive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities

Bosse

Katz-Wise

Chiodo

2022

Journal of Adolescent Research

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“…The current study addresses gaps in the limited research to date on resilience factors among TNB youth. While the extant research has provided preliminary knowledge on resilience, research has been primarily quantitative and, aside from a small body of studies (e.g., Budge et al, 2018; Hale et al, 2021; Katz-Wise et al, 2017), has lacked nuanced perspectives of TNB youth on what specific supports are needed and what steps could occur across multiple levels of the social ecology. Elevating the perspectives of transgender adolescents, as well as non-binary youth—who have not been consistently included in qualitative research studies—could aid in improving health outcomes.…”

Section: Addressing Gaps In Resilience Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevating the perspectives of transgender adolescents, as well as non-binary youth—who have not been consistently included in qualitative research studies—could aid in improving health outcomes. Of the small body of qualitative or mixed-methods studies that have investigated youth perspectives on supports and/or strategies that would bolster health and related outcomes, most have been geographically constrained to a specific US region (Singh, 2013), used small samples (Budge et al, 2018; Singh et al, 2014), or relied on clinic-based samples (Hale et al, 2021). Additionally, few studies have examined potential resilience factors across multiple socio-ecological levels.…”

Section: Addressing Gaps In Resilience Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Exploration of How Transgender and Non-binary Adolescents Define and Identify Supports

Shah

Parodi

Holt

et al. 2022

Journal of Adolescent Research

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This qualitative study explored how 249 transgender and non-binary (TNB) adolescents (ages 14–18) described salient supports in their lives, and ways in which key social-ecological contexts could better support TNB adolescents’ wellbeing. Participants were recruited through social media, and completed online surveys; all study procedures were approved by the Boston University Institutional Review Board. Most (84.7%) participants identified as White, and as sexual minorities (96.4%). Modified consensual qualitative research (CQR-M) methods were used to examine TNB adolescents’ responses to two questions: “In your life, which people, if any, would you describe as most supportive, and why?” and “What can individuals/groups within families, schools, and communities do to best support the well-being of transgender and non-binary adolescents?” Results indicated that the most common source of support for TNB participants was peers, followed by family members. Participants also highlighted the centrality of supportive environments that offer access to resources, as well as support derived through policies and practices that reduce stigma. Collectively, results have implications for how individuals and systems can foster wellbeing among TNB adolescents.

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“How in God’s Name Are We Going to Navigate This?”: Parent Support for Transgender Adolescents

2023

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The extant literature has clearly demonstrated that transgender and nonbinary adolescents (TNBA) face extreme stress related to navigating gender identity and expression across various social environments. Additionally, parents are perhaps the most critical aspect of support for TNBA, and research has repeatedly identified the benefits of parent support for adolescent mental health. However, few studies underscore how TNBA and parents within the same family perceive parent support after adolescents disclose that they are transgender or nonbinary. The present qualitative study uses a life history calendar (LHC) interview approach with 20 TNBA-parent dyads (40 individual interviews) to explore TNBA-parent perceptions of parent support and adjustment related to TNBA gender identity and affirmation. Findings yielded three main points regarding parental support for TNBA. First, the time between disclosure to a parent and puberty mattered for parental support and adjustment processes. Second, parents who stepped into their child’s gender journey during their child’s adolescence grappled with feelings of grief and loss as they were making decisions to support their child’s gender affirmation. For many of these families, stigma-related fears and adolescent distress impacted parent support for their child’s gender journey. Third, parents lacked a familiar and affirming roadmap in their own families and communities, and although parents connected with other parents of trans kids for support, for some, these supportive resources presented challenges. Continued research can further study the complex drivers of support and the potential impact of these support processes on adolescent and parental well-being.

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Perceptions of Support Among Transgender and Gender-Expansive Adolescents and Their Parents

Cited by 15 publications

References 22 publications

Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults’ Perception of Behaviors that are Supportive and Unsupportive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities

Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults’ Perception of Behaviors that are Supportive and Unsupportive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities

A Qualitative Exploration of How Transgender and Non-binary Adolescents Define and Identify Supports

“How in God’s Name Are We Going to Navigate This?”: Parent Support for Transgender Adolescents

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