Youth Characteristics Associated With Sexual Violence Perpetration Among Transgender Boys and Girls, Cisgender Boys and Girls, and Nonbinary Youth

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigates rates of perpetration and experience of sexual violence by sexual and gender identity among youth ages 14 to 16 years.

Development and validation of the Trans and Nonbinary Coping Measure (TNCM): A measure of trans and nonbinary specific ways of coping with gender-related stress.

“…Research indicates that TNB individuals frequently experience external stressors (i.e., distal stress) in the form of institutional and interpersonal discrimination, with studies reporting that approximately 60% of TNB individuals have experienced sexual violence (Ybarra et al, 2022), 46% have experienced verbal harassment, and 9% have been physically assaulted (James et al, 2016). Additionally, TNB individuals experience a unique form of discrimination through identity invalidation (Testa et al, 2015), often through microaggressions such as misgendering (e.g., referred to by a name no longer used or with incorrect pronouns; see McLemore, 2015).…”

Sexual Violence and Gender Minority Youth

“…Ybarra et al 4 conducted a nationally representative online survey using social media, with attention to oversampling sexual and gender minority youth, to better understand variation in the prevalence of use of sexual violence (ie, perpetration) by gender identity. Their primary research questions were to what extent sexual violence rates vary by gender identity and what youth characteristics correlate with perpetration within gender identity categories.…”

“…Ybarra et al 4 finding that gender minority youth are not more likely to use sexual violence than their cisgender peers has the potential to counter pervasive and harmful narratives central to the ways in which trans identity has been weaponized in contemporary political discourse. Numerous legislative efforts have been enacted nationally that prohibit gender affirmative health care for transgender persons and restrict access to sports and facilities based on sex assigned at birth.…”

“…Numerous legislative efforts have been enacted nationally that prohibit gender affirmative health care for transgender persons and restrict access to sports and facilities based on sex assigned at birth. Ybarra et al 4 place this study in the context of the profound stigma and marginalization that transgender individuals experience in the United States, noting the "sensitive and unintentionally political research topic that sexual violence perpetration represents." Findings from this study counter persistent and harmful stereotypes of sexual deviancy attributed to gender minority individuals.…”

“…Key challenges in violence prevention research have been limited attention to the inclusion of gender minority youth in studies and sample sizes large enough to allow for analyses by gender identity, a noteworthy advance with the Ybarra study. 4 The challenge of inclusion is amplified by lack of consistent assessment of gender identity in studies of violence and discrimination leading to a lack of clarity about participants' gender identity. The measurement of gender identity is a major strength Ybarra et al 4 because the authors used a 2-step process, as recommended in similar studies with youth, 5 by asking youth who reported having a difference in gender identity compared with sex assigned at birth a follow up question about whether they were of transgender experience.…”