Transgender Youth and Life‐Threatening Behaviors

TLDR

Sexual minority status is a major risk factor for suicide and life‑threatening behaviors among LGBTQ youth, yet transgender youth have been understudied. Among 55 transgender youth, nearly half reported serious suicidal thoughts and a quarter had attempted suicide, with attempts associated with transgender‑identity–related ideation, parental abuse, and low body esteem, especially weight concerns.

Abstract

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.