Parental violence experiences among transgender children and youth

Abstract

In previous studies, it has been found that gender minority children and youth experience more parental violence than others their age. However, the connection between parental violence and belonging to a gender minority has not been examined in more detail, and especially domestic research on the subject is scarce. In this article, cross-tabulation and logistic regression analysis are used to examine the connection between children and youth belonging to the gender minority and parental violence. Data from the 2022 Finnish National Child Victim survey is used. According to the research results, trans children and youth are more likely to experience mental and physical parental violence than others their age. However, according to the results of the logistic regression analysis, the connection disappears when other variables affecting the probability of parental violence are controlled. The only exception in the data is the connection between mental violence experiences and non-binary identity, which remained statistically significant (OR 1,56, CI 1,11–2,19, p = 0,011) even after adjusting for other factors. The research results indicate that the connection between belonging to a gender minority and parental violence is mainly explained by other intervening factors. Based on the results, the accumulation of violent experiences among trans children and youths would seem to be due to the accumulation of various individual and family-related risk factors. Special attention should be paid to the well-being and needs of trans children and youth and their families, and it should be ensured that they receive adequate and expert support and help for the challenges they face.