Transgender youth and life-threatening behaviors.
Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; however, it has not been studied among transgender youth. Fifty-five transgender youth reported on their life-threatening behaviors. Nearly half of the sample reported having seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter reported suicide attempts. Factors significantly related to having made a suicide attempt included suicidal ideation related to transgender identity; experiences of past parental verbal and physical abuse; and lower body esteem, especially weight satisfaction and thoughts of how others evaluate the youths' bodies. Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for life-threatening behaviors among transgender youth.
Grossman
Arnold H
AH
Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA. arnold.grossman@nyu.edu
D'Augelli
Anthony R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000639:trends*; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology*; D014190:Transvestism / Q000523:psychology*