A Review of Psychosocial Interventions to Improve Parental Support of Transgender Youth

Abstract

Through a scoping literature review, this review aimed to identify key components of psychosocial interventions focused on improving parental support of transgender youth. A search strategy was developed using key terms and executed on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, GenderWatch, and Women’s Studies International. Included studies were published in English between 2013 and January 2024 and evaluated a psychosocial intervention for parents of transgender youth to improve supportive behaviors. After screening the title and abstract of 1,999 unique studies, 50 records underwent full-text review. Among the 50 studies available for review, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data from each study were extracted and compared. Three studies utilized monthly group therapy sessions, and two studies tested shorter, programmatic interventions. Through thematic analysis of the included interventions, this review highlights four strategies commonly utilized to support parental acceptance of transgender youth. First, interventions encouraged parents to process negative emotions associated with their child’s transition in a private, nonjudgmental environment. Second, studies suggested that the inclusion of information to increase parental knowledge of gender theory and transition positively affected the transgender child. In addition, intervention participants reported that finding community with other parents of transgender youth lessened feelings of isolation. Finally, the studies found that the use and practice of parent–child communication skills improved the parent–child relationship among transgender youth. The included studies represent early research of interventions to promote familial acceptance of transgender youth. Future investigations should expound on these findings and seek to quantify the effects of such interventions.