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Research
Group mindful self-compassion training to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young adults: Rationale and protocol for a randomised controlled trialYoung adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+) are more likely to experience mental health difficulties and are at significantly elevated risk of substance abuse, self-harm and suicide, relative to their heterosexual, endosex and cisgender peers. There is a need for effective mental health interventions for LGBTQIA+ young adults. Mindful Self-Compassion training is a promising approach; among LGBTQIA+ individuals, self-compassion accounts for more variation in mental health outcomes than bullying, victimization, and adverse childhood experiences combined. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ individuals with high self-compassion report more positive identity and happiness, less self-stigma, and lower suicidality than those with low self-compassion.
News & Events
New website provides tools and resources for parents of gender diverse children and young peopleTransforming Families is providing evidence-based resources to help support the mental wellbeing of young people questioning their gender identity, or who identify as trans or gender diverse.
News & Events
My child is trans – how do I support them?Raising a child in one gender and then having them identify as another at any stage in their life can be difficult for a parent to understand and is not always an easy shift for a parent to make.
Research
Parental occupational exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals and risk of hypospadias in infantsRates and types of hospitalisations for children who have subsequent contact with the child protection system: a population based case-control study
Research
Tertiary paediatric hospital health professionals' attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their childrenLesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents are often reluctant to disclose their sexual orientation to health professionals for fear of discrimination...
News & Events
Pilot program to improve gender equality in scienceThe Kids Research Institute Australia is proud to have been selected in a pilot program to improve the promotion and retention of women and gender minorities in science.
Research
E-cigarette use among gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA+) adolescents in Australia: The case for LGBTQA+ affirmative harm reductionThis study aimed to provide a first-ever comprehensive epidemiology of vaping behaviours among Australian gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA+) youth.
Research
Sexuality and Gender Diversity Among Adolescents in Australia, 2019-2021Sexuality- and gender-diverse (SGD) young people experience substantial health disparities relative to cisgender heterosexual peers. Little is known about SGD adolescents younger than 15 years.
Research
It’s time for change: inequities and determinants of health-related quality of life among gender and sexually diverse young people in AustraliaThis study was guided by three research aims: firstly, to examine the longitudinal trends of health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) among gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA2S+) young people through adolescence (ages 14-19); secondly, to assess longitudinal associations between poor mental health and HR-QoL among LGBTQA2S+ young people through adolescence; and thirdly, to examine differences in HR-QoL among LGBTQA2S+ young people during early adolescence (ages 14 and 15) depending on select school-, peer-, and parent-level factors.
Research
A Pilot Group Program for Parents of Trans Young People at a Specialized Pediatric Gender Diversity ServiceParental support is strongly associated with protective factors across a range of child health outcomes for trans young people. Commonly, parents report barriers to supporting their child such as lack of understanding and difficulty in accessing information and support regarding gender diversity.