“Euphoria”: Trans children and experiences of prepubertal social transition

Abstract

Objective: This research explored experiences of prepubertal social transition, listening to trans children who were affirmed in childhood, as well as hearing from their parents. Background: Despite being a topic of significant importance, there is limited qualitative literature on parents' or indeed children's experiences of prepubertal social transition and little qualitative research on how childhood rejection or affirmation influences well-being. Method: This study examines qualitative data from 30 parents with experience supporting a trans child to socially transition at average age 7 years (range 3-10 years), alongside data from 10 of the trans children. Data were analyzed through inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The first major theme explored experiences pretransition, with subthemes on children correcting assumptions, becoming distressed, struggling alone, reaching crisis, or growing withdrawn and frustrated. The second major theme examined experiences posttransition, with subthemes on a weight being lifted, validation at school, and well-being. Conclusion: This qualitative research complements existing quantitative evidence on the importance of social transition, with childhood affirmation critical to the happiness and well-being of trans children. Implications: The research has significant relevance for parents of trans children, professionals working with families, and policymakers and legislators influencing policy and practice toward trans children and their families.

“I Don’t Want to be a Girl. I Am a Girl!” Experiences Before, During and After Transition in Families with Trans Children and Adolescents

“…Due to the recent emergence of the first organizations of families of trans children and adolescents, the real state of the situation became more widely known and visible. These community networks are key for parents, providing them with support by increasing their knowledge, resources, and confidence such that they can support and advocate for their children (Galman, 2020;Horton, 2021;Horton, 2022). However, despite the influence of these family networks, there is still no consensus on how to support trans children, and studies of their experiences have emerged only relatively recently (Chen et al, 2017;Horton, 2022;Olson et al, 2019).…”

“…In fact, according to recent data, detransitions are quite infrequent: the first longitudinal study on children who have made the transition showed that only 2.5% have retransitioned (Olson et al, 2022). Against this perspective, affirmative approaches emphasize supporting trans children in their identity, without trying to set an age limit or make predictions about their future (Horton, 2022;Temple Newhook et al, 2018).…”

“…Currently, more trans children are being supported in childhood with respect to social transition (Ehrensaft et al, 2018). Social transition is understood as the external recognition of the child's lived gender identity, attendance to their needs, and exploring and supporting a process that entails ceasing to live socially according to the gender assigned at birth to live according to one's gender identity, which may involve a change of name, pronouns, manner of presentation, hairstyle, or clothing (Horton, 2022;Rae et al, 2019). Several studies, reported positive consequences of social transition, family acceptance, and support on the mental health of trans children and adolescents (Ehrensaft et al, 2018;Kuvalanka et al, 2014;Travers et al, 2012).…”

“…Qualitative research on the experiences of parents of trans children reveals difficulties encountered by families in supporting their children's social transition. Recent studies, such as those by Horton (2022) in the United Kingdom and Lorusso and Albanesi (2021) in Italy, point out that lack of knowledge is one of the main barriers that families initially encounter. Accordingly, Abreu et al (2022) reported in his study that many parents initially thought that their children's expressions were just a temporary phase or simply indicated same-sex orientation.…”

“…Most researchers agree that parental support is a protective factor for children, with maternal support standing out given its more ubiquitous presence, and highlight the importance of equality in terms of paternal support (Lorusso and Albanesi, 2021;Riggs & Due, 2015). Lack of mental health and wellbeing during childhood is not intrinsic to being trans; rather, it depends on various external factors, including family support (Horton, 2022;Travers et al, 2012).…”