Nonconforming Youth Research Articles

Gender nonbinary athletes and sport participation: Perspectives of high school coaches and athletic directors

ABSTRACT Students who identify as gender nonbinary may be victimized by peers as well as school teachers, staff, and administration [Perez, E. R., Schanding Jr, G. T., & Dao, T. K. (2013). Educators’ perceptions in addressing bullying of LGBTQ/gender nonconforming youth. Journal of School Violence, 12(1), 64–79.]. We gained an understanding of how coaches and athletic directors perceive gender nonbinary athletes and their sports team participation by recruiting a sample of NJ high school coaches and athletic directors to complete an online survey. Participants read a hypothetical vignette about an athlete who identifies as gender nonbinary. Half read a vignette about that athlete who wants to join their team and half read about an athlete joining the opposing team. Participants then rated their agreement to statements about the athlete’s sport participation. Findings are relevant, as many coaches’ and athletic directors’ perspectives do not align with current policies, which may have implications for the education and training of high school teachers and staff, and the opportunities for gender nonbinary high school athletes.

Homeless youth shelters and services for transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) clients: Results from a nationwide survey

This study explored results from a nationwide survey conducted with homeless youth shelter directors. The research sought to further the understanding of how policy and societal changes about gender affirming access to services have affected service delivery and accommodations at homeless youth shelters for transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth. Results from (n = 117) youth shelters indicate the majority of those surveyed are current in implementing many of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gender affirming policies. Among others, recommendations include a need for shelters to incorporate TGNC safety accommodations, and to update dress code policies from a universal design perspective.

Early Reactions of Parents to Their Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Children

Pre-adolescent transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth who are supported by their parents have improved psychosocial outcomes. Despite the important role parents play in TGNC youth’s development, there is little research on their experiences. This study explored the early parenting experiences of 34 parents of pre-adolescent TGNC youth. Parents were recruited from online communities and listservs, and interviewed via phone about their early parenting experiences. Data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Findings indicate that parents became aware of their child’s TGNC identity either through observing their child’s gender behaviors, or by their child verbalizing their identity. Parents, on average, became aware of their child’s gender identity exploration when they were just over 3 and a half years old. Parents felt a mix of emotions, with many reporting a lack of concern or positive emotions regarding their child’s rejection of traditional gender roles. Parents without prior knowledge of transgender people or existing connections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) people sought out information from the Internet. The findings are both consistent with and diverge from prior research with parents, suggesting both new areas for research, and additional ways in which TGNC youth and their parents can be best supported.

Crisis response among essential workers and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Limited research has been conducted on the mental health concerns of frontline and essential workers and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (U.S.). This study examined the association between working on the frontlines in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic (March to July 2020) and personal crisis text concerns (e.g., self-harm, suicidal thoughts, anxiety/stress, and substance abuse) for frontline essential workers and the children of frontline workers. We used a novel data set from a crisis texting service, Crisis Text Line (CTL), that is widely used throughout the U.S. Generalized Estimating Equations examined the individual association between eight specific crisis types (Depression, Stress/Anxiety, Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, Substance Abuse, Isolation, Relationship Issues, and Abuse) and being in frontline work or being a child of a frontline worker during the early phase of the pandemic. Using CTL concerns as a proxy for the prevalence of mental health issues, we found that children of workers, specifically the youngest demographic (13 years and under), females, and non-conforming youth had a higher risk of specific crisis events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Hispanic children of workers reported higher rates of stress/anxiety, whereas African American children of workers had higher rates of abuse and depression. Frontline workers had a higher risk of suicidal thoughts, and the risk of crisis events was generally highest for non-binary, transgender, and male users. Increases in CTL usage among frontline workers were noted across 7–28 days after spikes in local COVID-19 cases. The research to date has focused on the mental health of frontline essential workers, but our study highlights troubling trends in psychological stress among children of these workers. Supportive interventions and mental health resources are needed not only for frontline essential workers, but for their children too.

Considerations for Providing Pediatric Gender-Affirmative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Considerations for Providing Pediatric Gender-Affirmative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social Predictors of Health Status Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth

TITLE: SOCIAL PREDICTORS OF HEALTH STATUS AMONG TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING YOUTH PURPOSE: Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals experience significant health disparities compared to their cisgender counterparts. TGNC youth in particular may face distinct challenges when it comes to improving and maintaining health. There is limited research regarding TGNC youth and the mediating factors that may influence health status. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between various predictors, including gender identity, substance use, bullying, and …

Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Individuals

THE HEALTH OF ALL PATIENTS remains the central aim of nursing care. Perianesthesia nurses hold a unique space with patients when they are most vulnerable. Hence, by honoring the long-standing tradition of caring for individuals, regardless of their respective identities, nursing can lead the way in promoting the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning persons. Although growing, research on evidence-based practice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning population is limited. Authored by a pediatric psychiatrist, the following article presents the “state of the knowledge” in addressing health issues faced by nonconforming youth. Mary W. Stewart, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS

Youth and Parent Experiences in a Multidisciplinary Gender Clinic.

Purpose: To assess youth and parent/caregiver satisfaction with care at a pediatric multidisciplinary gender clinic.Methods: Transgender/gender nonconforming youth (n=33) and their parent/caregiver (n=29) completed self-report questionnaires and individual interviews (n=20) about experiences and satisfaction with care.Results: Quantitatively, participants reported being extremely satisfied with care experiences (parents 97%; youth 94%). Qualitatively, main themes included (1) affirmation due to use of preferred name/pronouns, (2) access barriers due to scheduling and readiness assessments, and (3) positive interactions with Care Navigator.Conclusion: Youth and parents/caregivers are highly satisfied with multidisciplinary, coordinated health care for transgender/gender nonconforming youth; however, some challenges remain.

Impact of Gender Expression on Disordered Eating, Body Dissatisfaction and BMI in a Cohort of Transgender Youth

Purpose: Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth report higher rates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating than their cisgender peers. Despite this, systematic screening tools and evidence-based treatment for disordered eating have not yet been developed for TGNC youth. Gender affirming care may impact body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, which often arise in the context of gender dysphoria and other experiences associated with identifying as TGNC; however, the extent to which gender affirming care affects body dissatisfaction and disordered eating remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between gender …

What If Your Peers Don't See Your Gender Identity As You Do?

To provide a more nuanced examination of health disparities for transgender/gender nonconforming youth (TGNC), investigators analyzed data from the

Queer and trans-themed books for young readers: a critical review

ABSTRACTAs research on transgender and gender nonconforming children and youth becomes increasingly prevalent in literary scholarship, educational possibilities arise for teachers of children’s and young adult (YA) literature in various classroom settings. This article provides a brief history of literature for children and teens containing queer and trans-positive themes, as well as critical reviews of a selection of more prominent contemporary children’s and YA texts. The aim in these reviews is not to offer an exhaustive examination of what is available in trans-positive literature for children and youth, but to consider how these texts, and others, may begin to form a pedagogy of possibility that is rooted in gender equity and social justice.

Educators' Perceptions in Addressing Bullying of LGBTQ/Gender Nonconforming Youth

This study investigated bullying behaviors and how experienced educators report their perceptions of seriousness, their likelihood to intervene, and their level of empathy when victims are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) or gender nonconforming (GN) youth. Educators were surveyed regarding their perceptions of bullying behaviors, rating bullying of LGBTQ/GN or non-LGBTQ/GN youth. Three two-way ANOVAs investigating the main effects and interaction of group membership (LGBTQ/GN and non-LGBTQ/GN) and type of bullying (verbal, physical, and relational) upon educators' perceived seriousness, likelihood to intervene, and level of empathy toward victims. A significant interaction was detected regarding group membership and physical bullying regarding all three dependent variables, with educators rating physical bullying of LGBTQ/GN youth as slightly less serious, having less empathy, and less likely to intervene in those situations compared to verbal and relational bullying. Strengths, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Reimagining gender through policy development: the case of a ‘single-sex’ educational organisation

In 2005, a feminist educational organisation in the USA for young women, ages 14–21, adopted a policy in order to clarify their target constituency of girls and young women. The policy defined ‘girls and young women’ not as a designation associated with fixed biological sex, but instead as a self-determined identity label creating an explicit policy of inclusion to gender non-conforming students, including transgender youth, who self-identified as ‘girls’ or ‘young women’. This article traces the series of influences that prompted the development of the policy, as well as the learning curves for this feminist educational all-girls’ community, and the discussions that led to both the unanimous adoption of the policy and a subsequent larger cultural shift within the organisation. This analysis seeks to add to an understanding and exploration of policies that address the de facto exclusion of gender non-conforming, intersex, and transgender youth from gender-based educational settings.