Experiences of gender-diverse youth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: A longitudinal qualitative study

• Published in: PloS one 2023-11, Vol.18 (11), p.e0294337-e0294337
• Main Authors: Everest, Louis, Henderson, Jo, Dixon, Mahalia, Relihan, Jacqueline, Hawke, Lisa D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Canada; Cisgender; Cohort analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Data collection; Drug use; Epidemics; Gender; Gender aspects; Gender identity; Gender-affirming care; Health care; Health care access; Health care disparities; Health disparities; Health policy; Hormone replacement therapy; Housing; Inclusion; Interviews; LGBTQ people; Longitudinal studies; Mediation; Mental health; Non-binary gender; Ontario; Pandemics; Psychological aspects; Public health; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative research; Rebuilding; Reflexivity; Social aspects; Social networks; Sociodemographics; Teenagers; Transgender people; Trends; Youth
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294337

Recent studies have suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased existing health challenges experienced by transgender (trans) and non-binary people. Additionally, COVID-19 has also negatively impacted youth mental health. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to the intersection of youth and trans and non-binary populations is currently not well established. The present longitudinal qualitative study aimed to examine the evolving challenges experienced by trans and non-binary youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender-diverse youth, defined as participants who did not identify as cisgender in April 2020, were invited to participate from among the participant pool of a COVID-19 cohort study in Canada. Qualitative interviews were conducted in August 2020, January 2021, and August 2021, during the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative themes were identified based on reflexive thematic analysis and plot-line narrative inquiry. Ten participants aged 18 to 28 were included in the present analysis, yielding 29 transcripts. We identified themes of (1) losses of connection to gender-diverse communities, (2) changes in gender identity, affirmation, and self-reflection, (3) a dual burden of trans and non-binary specific health and service access challenges as well as COVID-19 pandemic related health challenges, and (4) virtually rebuilding gender-diverse communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender-diverse youth may experience unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The losses with gender-diverse communities may further isolate queer people from access to healthcare, housing, and employment. Public health policy targeted at gender-diverse youth may consider addressing "upstream" disparities in healthcare and housing in order to support the rebuilding of queer and gender-diverse communities by gender-diverse people.