Mental Health and Well-Being of Children with Gender Variability

Dear Colleagues,

The mental health and well-being of children and adolescents with gender variability are critical areas of research, given the growing number of referrals to specialist gender services.

Gender variance during childhood can significantly impact self-concept and lead to mental health challenges, including increased risks of suicidal ideation in later life.

This Special Issue aims to explore the mental health disparities, the effects of gender discrimination, and the intersection of gender diversity with other conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and bullying.

We invite researchers to contribute innovative studies and evidence-based approaches that enhance understanding and improve care for gender-diverse youth.

[*] Background & history of this topic:

The topic of gender identity and mental health in children and adolescents has gained increasing attention. The existence of trans and non-binary children has been recognized since the early twentieth century, although their experiences and rights have been largely ignored or marginalized. These children were often labelled as "confused," pathologized, and subjected to medical treatments to suppress their gender nonconformity, reflecting social discomfort with non-binary gender expressions.

When parents, family, schools, and society observe this situation, they often respond swiftly. They assure the child or young person that it is merely a phase, implying that their desires and motivations are not crucial for their development. Although global guidelines advocate for involving children and young people in decision-making, the approach to this varies worldwide. Furthermore, gender discrimination, including maternal exposure to bias, has been linked to increased emotional and behavioral challenges in children.

Children and teens who do not identify with their birth gender often have more emotional and behavioral problems than those who do. Being different in gender during childhood can hurt self-esteem and cause mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide. These problems can continue into adulthood.

The invisibility and disability attributed to trans and nonbinary children are reinforced by legal and social systems that often ignore their voices and needs.

[*] Aim and scope of the Special Issue:

This Special Issue aims to address the mental health challenges faced by gender-diverse youth and explore strategies to mitigate these effects. It seeks to highlight the importance of integrated services that address the spectrum of gender variance and the need for gender-sensitive mental health care in the region. This Special Issue also aims to provide a platform for discussing the social determinants of health and their effects on gender-diverse youth, as well as the integration of sexual health services and mental health care.

[*] Cutting-edge research:

Various aspects of gender identity and mental health in children and adolescents may be included in this Special Issue:

- Disparities and Risks: analysis of protective factors against suicidal ideation and anxiety.
- Social Determinants: the impact of exposure to discrimination on the family and school nucleus.
- Neurodivergence: understand the overrepresentation of ASD in gender-diverse youth.
- Gender Differences: research on specific vulnerability in children and adolescents.

[*] What kind of papers we are soliciting:

We invite researchers to submit original articles, systematic reviews, case studies, and theoretical analyses that explore the following themes:

• Intersectionality and mental health of gender-diverse children.
• Impact of gender discrimination on children's mental health.
• Strategies to promote well-being and resilience in children and adolescents with gender variability.
• Integration of mental and sexual health services for gender-diverse youth.
• Studies on the relationship between gender variability and autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. Zaida Charepe
Prof. Dr. Nicole L. Letourneau
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• mental health
• well-being
• gender identity
• children
• adolescent
• hope
• resilience
• parental role
• inclusion
• transition