I Didn’t Want Him to Disappear” Parental Decision-Making on Access to Puberty Blockers for Trans Early Adolescents

Bibliographic Data

ID11670989
AuthorsCal Horton (0000-0003-1944-4122, University of London, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume43
Issue4
Pages490-515
Publication date2022-06-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Early Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-4316 • E-ISSN: 1552-5449
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/02724316221107076
OpenAlexW4282004066
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited35

Puberty can be a particularly challenging time for adolescents who are transgender. Access to puberty blocking medication, commonly called ‘puberty blockers', is considered an integral component of gender affirmative healthcare. Existing literature provides little insight into how parents of trans children entering into early adolescence navigate decision-making related to puberty blockers. This unique research examines parental perspectives on medical decision-making from a cohort of families with trans children who socially transitioned pre-adolescence (average age 7), and who at time of parental interview were in or approaching, early adolescence (average age 11). Data were analysed through inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Parental reflections are presented within three main themes, concern for protection of adolescent mental health and well-being, parental perspectives on adolescent consent, and managing decision-making without certainty. These findings hold relevance for healthcare policy makers, for parents of trans children, and for healthcare, social services and other professionals supporting trans adolescents and their families

Certainty · Developmental psychology · Qualitative research · Thematic analysis · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

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