Original Article
Suicidality, Self-Harm, and Body Dissatisfaction in Transgender Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Gender Dysphoria
Claire M. Peterson PhD,
Abigail Matthews PhD,
Emily Copps-Smith MA,
Lee Ann Conard RPh, DO, MPH,
Corresponding Author
Claire M. Peterson PhD
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Address correspondence to C. M. Peterson, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbigail Matthews PhD
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorEmily Copps-Smith MA
Department of Psychology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLee Ann Conard RPh, DO, MPH
Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorClaire M. Peterson PhD,
Abigail Matthews PhD,
Emily Copps-Smith MA,
Lee Ann Conard RPh, DO, MPH,
Corresponding Author
Claire M. Peterson PhD
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Address correspondence to C. M. Peterson, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbigail Matthews PhD
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorEmily Copps-Smith MA
Department of Psychology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLee Ann Conard RPh, DO, MPH
Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Prevalence of suicide attempts, self-injurious behaviors, and associated psychosocial factors were examined in a clinical sample of transgender (TG) adolescents and emerging adults (n = 96). Twenty-seven (30.3%) TG youth reported a history of at least one suicide attempt and 40 (41.8%) reported a history of self-injurious behaviors. There was a higher frequency of suicide attempts in TG youth with a desire for weight change, and more female-to-male youth reported a history of suicide attempts and self-harm behaviors than male-to-female youth. Findings indicate that this population is at a high risk for psychiatric comorbidities and life-threatening behaviors.
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