Suicidal Tendencies in Transgender Youth: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Suicide has been found to be the second-leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15-24, with increasing evidence that there is a greater risk of attempted suicide amongst sexual minority adolescents. Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are those whose gender identity and orientation does not match their assigned sex at birth. TGD youth are two to four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to their heterosexual peers, which may be attributed to greater marginalization while experiencing significant stigma, discrimination, and stress due to transphobia. Although most studies suggest higher risk of suicidal intention amongst sexual and gender minority youth, the specific prevalence rates within the population of transgender youth are inconclusive. Nine databases including APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Scopus were searched combining three concepts: (1) transgender, transsexual, or gender non-conforming, (2) self-injurious behaviour, self-harm, or suicidal ideation, and (3) youth or adolescents. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they fulfilled the above three concepts, are peer-reviewed, and published in English. Search results yielded 2123 studies after duplicates were removed, of which 244 articles met full inclusion criteria for extraction analyses. Extraction is currently still underway and results will be reported thereafter.