TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk and Protective Factors in the Lives of Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Adolescents
AU - Eisenberg, Marla E.
AU - Gower, Amy L.
AU - McMorris, Barbara J.
AU - Rider, G. Nicole
AU - Shea, Glynis
AU - Coleman, Eli
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Purpose Research suggests that transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth may be at greatly increased risk of high-risk health behaviors compared with cisgender youth, but existing studies are limited by convenience samples and small numbers. This study uses a large school-based sample of adolescents to describe the prevalence of TGNC identity, associations with health risk behaviors and protective factors, and differences across birth-assigned sex. Methods This study analyzes existing surveillance data provided by 9th and 11th grade students in Minnesota in 2016 (N = 81,885). Students who were transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, or unsure about their gender identity (TGNC) were compared with those who were not, using χ2 and t-tests. Outcome measures included four domains of high-risk behaviors and experiences and four protective factors. Results The prevalence of TGNC identity was 2.7% (n = 2,168) and varied significantly across gender, race/ethnicity, and economic indicators. Involvement in all types of risk behaviors and experiences was significantly higher, and reports of four protective factors were significantly lower among TGNC than cisgender youth. For example, almost two-thirds (61.3%) of TGNC youth reported suicidal ideation, which is over three times higher than cisgender youth (20.0%, χ2 = 1959.9, p <.001). Among TGNC youth, emotional distress and bullying experience were significantly more common among birth-assigned females than males. Conclusions This research presents the first large-scale, population-based evidence of substantial health disparities for TGNC adolescents in the United States, highlighting numerous multilevel points of intervention through established protective factors. Health care providers are advised to act as allies by creating a safe space for young people, bolstering protective factors, and supporting their healthy development.
AB - Purpose Research suggests that transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth may be at greatly increased risk of high-risk health behaviors compared with cisgender youth, but existing studies are limited by convenience samples and small numbers. This study uses a large school-based sample of adolescents to describe the prevalence of TGNC identity, associations with health risk behaviors and protective factors, and differences across birth-assigned sex. Methods This study analyzes existing surveillance data provided by 9th and 11th grade students in Minnesota in 2016 (N = 81,885). Students who were transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, or unsure about their gender identity (TGNC) were compared with those who were not, using χ2 and t-tests. Outcome measures included four domains of high-risk behaviors and experiences and four protective factors. Results The prevalence of TGNC identity was 2.7% (n = 2,168) and varied significantly across gender, race/ethnicity, and economic indicators. Involvement in all types of risk behaviors and experiences was significantly higher, and reports of four protective factors were significantly lower among TGNC than cisgender youth. For example, almost two-thirds (61.3%) of TGNC youth reported suicidal ideation, which is over three times higher than cisgender youth (20.0%, χ2 = 1959.9, p <.001). Among TGNC youth, emotional distress and bullying experience were significantly more common among birth-assigned females than males. Conclusions This research presents the first large-scale, population-based evidence of substantial health disparities for TGNC adolescents in the United States, highlighting numerous multilevel points of intervention through established protective factors. Health care providers are advised to act as allies by creating a safe space for young people, bolstering protective factors, and supporting their healthy development.
KW - Gender identity
KW - Health behaviors
KW - Protective factors
KW - Transgender
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.04.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.04.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 28736148
AN - SCOPUS:85025162877
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 61
SP - 521
EP - 526
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 4
ER -