Parent responses to childhood gender nonconformity: Effects of parent and child characteristics

Many children display traits, interests, or behaviors not stereotypically associated with their sex. Little is known about the factors influencing how parents respond to their children engaging in gender-nonconforming behaviors, yet the way parents respond to such behaviors may be critical to supporting children's development- particularly among children who frequently display gender-nonconforming traits and behaviors. This study examined parent and child characteristics that relate to how parents respond, or would respond, to gender-nonconforming behaviors. A community sample of parents (N=236) completed an online survey that assessed how frequently their child engaged in gender-nonconforming behaviors, their own gender-atypical traits, attitudes toward gender, parenting style, and their discomfort with and attempts to change their child's gender-nonconforming behaviors. Parents reported greater discomfort with gender nonconformity when their child was male and less gender nonconforming and when they held more traditional gender role attitudes. After controlling for discomfort, parents reported more frequent efforts to change gender-nonconforming behaviors when their child was male, when they held more traditional attitudes toward gender roles, and if they had a warmer parenting style. Notably, boys' gender nonconformity was negatively associated with parent efforts to change behaviors. These data explicate the parent-child contexts associated with parents' being uncomfortable with their child engaging in gender-nonconforming behaviors and intervening to change those behaviors to fit in with societal expectations for gender. Results from this study could inform intervention efforts to increase parental support for gender-nonconforming youths.

Duke Scholars

Author Leigh Spivey-Rita Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychia ...