Qualitative metasummary: Parents seeking support related to their TGNC children

Abstract

Background: Parents seek support on behalf of their transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) children. Previous qualitative studies explore the types of support parents seek inside and outside of healthcare settings. Healthcare providers often remain unprepared to effectively provide gender-affirming services to TGNC children and their accompanying parents and may benefit from learning about the support seeking experiences of parents with TGNC children.

Aims: This paper summarized qualitative research studies that address the topic of parents seeking support on behalf of their TGNC children. We produced this report for healthcare providers to review to enhance gender-affirming services for parents and TGNC children.

Methods: This paper outlines a qualitative metasummary of studies from the United States or Canada with data collected from parents of TGNC children. Data collection included the steps of journal runs, database searches, reference checks, and area scans. Data analysis involved the steps of extracting, editing, grouping, abstracting, and calculating the intensity and frequency effect sizes for finding statements from qualitative research study articles.

Results: The results of this metasummary yielded two primary themes, six subthemes, and 24 total findings. The first primary theme of seeking guidance had three subthemes: educational resources, community networks, and advocacy efforts. The second primary theme of seeking healthcare had three subthemes: healthcare providers, mental healthcare, and general healthcare.

Discussion: These findings provide information healthcare providers can use to inform their practice. These findings also highlight the importance of providers working collaboratively with parents when serving TGNC children. This article concludes with practical tips for providers.

Keywords:

• Healthcare
• parents
• qualitative
• systematic literature review
• transgender

Acknowledgments

We thank the following individuals for their contributions related to this study: Julie Barroso, PhD, RN, ANP, FAAN, Carla Garber, PhD, LPC, April D. Grimes, LCSW, Feleshia Porter, LPC, Heather Newby, LCSW, Rebekka Ouer, LCSW-S, and Annemarie St. John, LPC.

Disclosure statement

We report no conflict of interest related to this study.

Additional information

Funding

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