ReviewChild and adolescent psychiatry and mental health2024
Mental health of non-binary youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The influence of digital addiction on adolescents' subjective wellbeing: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Mental health disparities in LGBTQIA+ populations: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2026Article
- Demographic and Clinical Features of Early-Onset versus Late-Onset Gender Dysphoria Among Adolescent and Young Adult Birth-Assigned Females.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- Co-Development and Validation of a Patient-Reported Experience Measure for Trans and Gender Diverse Young People: A Multi-Stage Participatory Study Protocol.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026Article
- High Prevalences of Current Mental Disorder Diagnoses Among University Students in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Study With Implications for Student Mental Health Services.International journal of methods in psychiatric research · 2026Article
- Commentary: Interpreting diagnostic data on autism and gender dysphoria: clinical and research implications - a commentary on Sanders et al. (2025).Child and adolescent mental health · 2026Article
- Reducing Disparities and Improving Mental Health for Transgender Persons.Alpha psychiatry · 2026Article
- Article
- The interplay between gender identity and sex assigned at birth in adolescents' health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Gender-affirming health care needs, barriers to care, and health and wellbeing in a broad nationwide sample of transgender people in Norway.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Longitudinal Associations Between Early Noncoital Sexual and Romantic Behaviors and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms.Journal of adolescence · 2025Article
- Expanding the Lens: Recent Developments at the Intersection of Pediatric Chronic Pain and Gender Diversity.Current pain and headache reports · 2025Review
- Mental health and meaning in modern life among young adults in Norway.Discover mental health · 2025Article
- Daily associations between peer victimization and anxious affect among adolescents: The role of social threat sensitivity.Development and psychopathology · 2025Article
- Prevalence and correlates of depression among Thai university students: nationwide study.BJPsych open · 2025Article
- Socio-Demographic and Health Data of Adolescents Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse in the Born in Bradford's Age of Wonder Cohort.Wellcome open research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNon-binary identities are increasingly recognized within the spectrum of gender diversity, yet there is a dearth of research exploring the mental health challenges specific to this population. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the mental health outcomes of non-binary youth in comparison to their transgender and cisgender peers.
methodsA systematic search was conducted to identify relevant studies across three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) covering the period from inception to October 2023. The meta-analysis was performed employing a random-effects model. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies comparing non-binary youth with transgender or cisgender youth, providing data on mental health outcomes such as general mental health, depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-harm and suicidality.
resultsTwenty-one studies, meeting the inclusion criteria and originating from six different countries, were included in the analysis. The sample encompassed 16,114 non-binary, 11,925 transgender, and 283,278 cisgender youth, with ages ranging from 11 to 25 years. Our meta-analysis revealed that non-binary youth exhibit significantly poorer general mental health compared to both transgender (d = 0.24, 95% CI, 0.05-0.43, p =.013) and cisgender youth (d = 0.48, 95% CI, 0.35-0.61, p <.001), indicating a more impaired general mental health in non-binary youth. Regarding depressive symptoms, when comparing non-binary and cisgender individuals, a moderate and significant effect was observed (d = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.41-0.63, p <.001). For anxiety symptoms, a small but significant effect was observed in the comparison with cisgender individuals (d = 0.44, 95% CI, 0.19-0.68, p =.001). Furthermore, non-binary individuals exhibited lower rates of past-year suicidal ideation than transgender peers (OR = 0.79, 95% CI, 0.65-0.97, p =.023) and higher rates of lifetime suicidal ideation than cisgender youth (OR = 2.14, 95% CI, 1.46-3.13, p <.001).
conclusionNon-binary youth face distinct mental health challenges, with poorer general mental health, elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to cisgender, and similar rates of self-harm and suicidal behavior compared to transgender individuals. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including gender-affirming mental health support, to address the specific needs of non-binary youth.
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