ERIC Number: EJ1369686
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Apr
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-4316
EISSN: EISSN-1552-5449
"I Didn't Want Him to Disappear" Parental Decision-Making on Access to Puberty Blockers for Trans Early Adolescents
Journal of Early Adolescence, v43 n4 p490-515 Apr 2023
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.
Descriptors: Puberty, Sexual Identity, Drug Therapy, Parent Role, Decision Making, Preadolescents, Early Adolescents, Children, Parent Attitudes, Mental Health, Well Being, Health Services, Foreign Countries, Quality of Life
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England); United Kingdom (Scotland); United Kingdom (Wales)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A