Qualitative Metasummary: Transgender and Gender Diverse Children’s Experiences of Parental Responses

Abstract

This qualitative metasummary literature review study explores transgender and gender diverse (TGD) children’s experiences of parents responding to their gender identities. In data collection for this study, we identified 31 peer-reviewed articles addressing this research topic. Studies included qualitative data collected from TGD children. Data analysis yielded three themes, six subthemes, and 35 findings. The primary three themes highlight TGD children’s experiences of supportive, unsupportive, and intermediate parental responses to their gender identities. In this paper, we provide examples of study findings and implications that healthcare providers may consider when offering gender-affirming care to TGD children with accompanying parents.

Keywords:

• Literature review
• transgender
• gender diverse
• children
• parents

Acknowledgments

Renee Baker, PhD, LPC, Julie Barroso, PhD, RN, ANP, FAAN, Monica Coulter, MA, LPC, Steffanie Grossman, PhD, CEDS, Melanie C. Maine, M.Ed, LPC-S, Rebekka Ouer, LCSW-S, Faye Reimers, PhD, LP, Kimber Shelton, PhD, Amanda Swartz, PsyD, CEDS-S, LaShonda Thomas, LMFT, Danuelle "Danni" Williams, LCSW.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the TCU Research and Creative Activities Fund