Date of Award

Winter 2-28-2019

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

PhD Nursing

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Judith Lothian, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Marie Foley, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Munira Wells, Ph.D.

Keywords

parents, transgender, adolescents, experience, nursing

Abstract

Abstract

Background: According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, about 150,000 U.S. adolescents aged 13-17 identify as transgender (Singhal, 2018). Therefore, parents of these growing number of adolescents face the daily struggles of being a parent of a transgender adolescent.

Purpose of the Study: A scant amount of research exists on the multitude of issues that parents of transgender/ non-binary adolescents confront in seeking guidance and support with the challenges they face daily. There is little in the literature concerning the experience of being a parent of a transgender/non-binary teen. Hence, the purpose of this study was to answer the research question, “What is the experience of being a parent of a transgender adolescent?”

Method: Phenomenological inquiry was used to gain insight into the participants’ experiences. Multiple open-ended interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed and the themes that emerged from the data were documented in the written narrative.

Results: The parents could make meaning of their experience of being a parent of a transgender/non-binary adolescent. Despite the difficulties these parents often face, the unconditional love for their child remains unfaltering. Nine themes emerged from this study: Grief and loss, Fear for their child’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, Fear for the future, Advocacy, Sibling acceptance, Frustration with health care providers, They are still the same person, Intolerance of unaccepting, unsupportive parents, and Finding meaning. One meta-theme also emerged: Unconditional love.

Conclusion: The most significant finding of this study is the participants need to advocate and protect their adolescent from a harsh, judgmental society with the strong hope and conviction that their child will one day soon be welcomed into a loving, accepting humanity.

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