title: Imagining the future: Perspectives among youth and caregivers in the trans youth family study.
abstract: Future perspectives of transgender youth and their caregivers may be shaped by knowledge of discrimination and adverse mental health among transgender adults. Qualitative data from the Trans Youth Family Study were analyzed to examine how transgender and gender nonconforming (TGN) youth and their caregivers imagine the youth's future. A community-based sample of 16 families (16 TGN youth, ages 7-18 years, and 29 caregivers) was recruited from 2 regions in the United States. Participants completed in-person qualitative interviews and surveys. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory methodology for coding procedures. Analyses yielded 104 higher order themes across 45 interviews, with 8 prominent themes: comparing experiences with others, gender affirming hormones, gender affirming surgery, gender norms, questioning whether the youth is really transgender, expectations for romantic relationships, uncertainty about the future, and worries about physical and emotional safety. A conceptual model of future perspectives in TGN youth and caregivers is presented and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Sabra L
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4825-6673
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Katz-Wise
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Budge
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Joe J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Orovecz
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Bradford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nava-Coulter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9816-0461
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult