Suicidality Disparities Between Transgender and Cisgender Adolescents

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence indicates transgender adolescents (TGAs) exhibit elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempt compared with cisgender adolescents (CGAs). Less is known about risk among subgroups of TGAs because of limited measures of gender identity in previous studies. We examined disparities in suicidality across the full spectrum of suicidality between TGAs and CGAs and examined risk for suicidality within TGA subgroups. METHODS: Adolescents aged 14 to 18 completed a cross-sectional online survey (N = 2020, including 1148 TGAs). Participants reported gender assigned at birth and current gender identity (categorized as cisgender males, cisgender females, transgender males, transgender females, nonbinary adolescents assigned female at birth, nonbinary adolescents assigned male at birth, and questioning gender identity). Lifetime suicidality (passive death wish, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, and attempt requiring medical care) and nonsuicidal self-injury were assessed. RESULTS: Aggregated into 1 group, TGAs had higher odds of all outcomes as compared with CGAs. Within TGA subgroups, transgender males and transgender females had higher odds of suicidal ideation and attempt than CGA groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we used comprehensive measures of gender assigned at birth and current gender identity within a large nationwide survey of adolescents in the United States to examine suicidality among TGAs and CGAs. TGAs had higher odds of all suicidality outcomes, and transgender males and transgender females had high risk for suicidal ideation and attempt. Authors of future adolescent suicidality research must assess both gender assigned at birth and current gender identity to accurately identify and categorize TGAs.

Depression symptoms as a mediator between social support, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidal ideation among Arab adolescents in Israel

“…The current study had focused on population of Arab ethnic minority in Israel. Cross-cultural comparison has revealed a wide variety of suicidal ideation (Page et al,2013), and being affiliated with minority groups, such as racial (Lindsey et al, 2019) or sexual identity (Thoma et al, 2019) minorities, has been found associated with higher risk of NSSI and suicidality. However, studies within the Arab population in Israel revealed high communal and traditional attitudes (Al-Krenawi, 2010;Sharabi, 2014), which had been established as substantial protective factors (Foster et al, 2017;Kuentzel et al, 2012;Martin et al, 2016).…”

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“… 5 , 9 There are also a number of studies reporting a high percentage of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and suicide attempts in adolescents with gender dysphoria. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 Compared with their cisgender peers, TGNC youth are more likely to report mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. 1 , 14 Moreover, within the school environment, transgender adolescents are vulnerable to harassment and bullying.…”

O processo de identificação sexual na adolescência: um estudo qualitativo no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Durante a fase da adolescência, qualquer comportamento negativo com relação à identidade de gênero de adolescentes transgêneros, pode acarretar em prejuízo para a saúde destes (Yadegarfard et al, 2014). Ideação e tentativa de suicídio são mais frequentes em adolescentes transgêneros do que cisgêneros (Thoma et al, 2019). O desejo sexual, para parte dos nossos entrevistados, surge nas pessoas de acordo com sua natureza, independente das influências que sofram.…”