Suicidality Among Transgender Youth: Elucidating the Role of Interpersonal Risk Factors
Austin, A., Craig, S. L., D’Souza, S., & McInroy, L. B. (2020). Suicidality among transgender youth: elucidating the role of interpersonal risk factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520915554
Highlights
Background
Data show that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth.
Study Description
This study aims to better understand suicide risk among transgender youth
We examined the influence of intervenable risk factors (interpersonal and environmental microaggressions, internalized self-stigma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)) and protective factors (school belonging, family support, and peer support) on transgender youths’:
Lifetime suicide attempts
Past 6-month suicidality
Data for the current study (n = 372 transgender youth) were culled from Project #Queery, an online study of SGMY (n = 6,309) across the United States and Canada
Key Findings
56% of youth reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidality
Models for both lifetime suicide attempts and suicidality were significant
Interpersonal microaggressions significantly (and uniquely) contributed to lifetime suicide attempts
Emotional neglect by family approached significance
School belonging, emotional neglect by family, and internalized self-stigma significantly (and uniquely) contributed to past 6-month suicidality
Findings offer guidance for practitioners working with parents and caregivers of trans youth, as well as, for the creation of practices which foster interpersonal belonging for transgender youth.
