Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Social Support and Internalizing Psychopathology in Transgender Youth
Lily Durwood1, Léïla Eisner2,3, Kaitlyn Fladeboe2,4,5
1University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA. ldurwood@uw.edu.
Abstract:
Although increasing numbers of children have socially transitioned to live in line with their gender identities, little is known about factors associated with their wellbeing. This study examines the associations between parent-reported family, peer, and school support for a youth's gender identity, as well as an objective measure of state-level support, with parent-reported internalizing symptoms in 265 transgender youth (67.2% transgender girls, 32.8% transgender boys), ages 3-15 years (M = 9.41, SD = 2.62). Parents who reported higher levels of family, peer, and school support for their child's gender identity also reported fewer internalizing symptoms; the objective measure of state-level support was not related to internalizing symptoms. Additionally, peer and school support buffered against the association between gender-related victimization and internalizing symptoms, as reported by parents. This work demonstrates that even among transgender youth with families who supported their transitions, parents see better well-being in their children when they also see more support for the child's gender identity from family, peers, and schools.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

