State of the Science: Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth

Abstract

Gender-affirming care is a framework that has developed over the past two decades and has experienced a rapid proliferation of empirical evidence. Given increased attention to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in sociocultural spheres, there is a need to examine the current evidence base for effective gender-affirming mental health treatment. In this State of the Science review, we highlight general treatment frameworks that best support TGD youth and families in a variety of contexts, using gender-affirming psychosocial approaches. We use groupings of presenting concerns for TGD youth and families outlined by to highlight differing mental health support needs, emphasizing the need for individual, contextually-based care models that consider aspects of gender-related marginalization and resilience. We further discuss needs for care access and equity and need for further attention in future research and intervention approaches.