Demographic and Behavioral Profiles of Nonbinary and Binary Transgender Youth

Abstract

Purpose: Emerging literature suggests there may be important differences in the demographic characteristics and health profiles of nonbinary transgender youth compared to binary transgender youth.Methods: Between June 2017 and June 2018, 202 transgender youth aged 15–24 years were recruited into a randomized trial of home HIV testing, Project Moxie. This analysis compares demographic and health risk behavior characteristics between youth reporting nonbinary and binary transgender identities in baseline surveys.Results: Nonbinary youth were significantly less likely to have accessed medical interventions to affirm their gender than binary youth (8.4% vs. 46.2%), and less likely to be living currently as the gender that most affirms them (80.7% vs. 91.6%). While there were no significant differences in the low levels of resilience reported across the sample, nonbinary youth reported significantly higher levels of stress. Health risk behaviors were generally high across nonbinary and binary participants, with no significant differences in sexual partner count, condomless sex, alcohol use, tobacco, marijuana, or other drug use.Conclusion: Findings affirmed many similarities, and key disparities, between nonbinary and binary transgender youth. Research and interventions dedicated to the unique needs and experiences of nonbinary transgender youth to address high levels of health risk behaviors and stress are critical.

Prevalence and Co-occurrence of Alcohol, Nicotine, and Other Substance Use Disorder Diagnoses Among US Transgender and Cisgender Adults

“…Thus, the gender-stratified, transgender subanalysis is only representative of transgender individuals who have accessed gender-affirming hormones or surgery. Notably, across community-based studies, nonbinary individuals have comprised 35% to 42% of transgender samples 6 , 47 , 48 and many nonbinary individuals do not use gender-affirming hormones or procedures 6 , 49 , 50 ; thus, it is likely that most individuals who were excluded from our gender-stratified analyses were nonbinary people who had not accessed hormones or surgery. Furthermore, research finds that TF people are less likely to receive various forms of gender-affirming services than TM people 16 , 51 and nonreceipt of gender-affirming care is associated with substance use.…”

Community norms for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among gender-expansive populations

“…First, the participants of The PRIDE study are predominantly non-Latino, White, and highly educated. As research suggests that nearly one third of gender-expansive people are not White, these populations are underrepresented in the present study [ 45 ]. Overall, this may limit the generalizability of these results to people of color.…”

Learning to endure: A qualitative examination of the protective factors of homeless transgender and gender expansive youth engaged in survival sex

“…Additionally, there are within-group differences among TGE youth that may potentiate risk (Rimes et al, 2019). For example, research indicates there are differences in stress levels and life satisfaction for transgender youth compared to non-binary youth (Rimes et al, 2019;Todd et al, 2019). Further, the challenges faced by TGE youth may be complicated by other marginalized aspects of their identities, such as race and/or ethnicity (Atteberry-Ash et al, 2019;Birkett et al, 2015;James et al, 2016;Kosciw et al, 2018).…”

“…Beyond a lack of sexual health resources, research has indicated that TGE youth generally experience inadequate access to comprehensive physical and mental health services (Mizock & Mueser, 2014). This has frequently been a problem for homeless youth (Hudson et al, 2010), but the difficulties for TGE youth may be compounded by stigma and discrimination and a lack of gender-affirming healthcare providers Todd et al, 2019;Vance et al, 2015). The lack of appropriate care afforded to TGE youth, especially those who are homeless, has been associated with difficulties maintaining overall physical and mental wellbeing (Vance et al, 2015).…”

“…Much of the literature on resilience has been based on discussion of cisgender, heterosexual samples; thus, the common protective factors identified have included those that reinforce a strong sense of self within a supportive social context (e.g., family connection, social support, prosocial behavior, ethnic identity, and self-confidence; Eisenberg et al, 2017;Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005;Zimmerman et al, 2013). However, these protective factors may not be readily available to TGE youth (Shelton, 2016;Todd et al, 2019). Many TGE youth experience transphobia in a variety of social contexts (e.g., the family, school, and/or community), thereby reducing their ability to develop or reinforce the protective factors that are inherent through these social connections Nemoto et al, 2004).…”