Injuries/Violence
Suicidology across Transgender and Gender Expansive Populations: A Systematic Review Shamsi Soltani* Shamsi Soltani Boglarka Huddleston Rebecca Bernert
Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), transgender and gender expansive communities– known as sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations– face elevated risk for suicide-related behaviors. Yet, most SGM suicide research is on sexual minorities (e.g. LGB groups), who may differ in risk from gender minority populations. Even gender-minority inclusive research often treats SGM people as at equivalent risk. To advance suicide prevention, it is critical to tailor knowledge to specific sub-populations. Thus, we conduct a systematic review of the English-language, peer-reviewed literature on transgender and gender expansive suicide risk. We evaluate whether risk factors are individual-, community-, or structural-level, and if intersectional social identities are assessed.
Methods: Search terms were selected with research librarian input (author BH) and validated using a selection of seed articles authors identified as relevant to the review. We queried PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL databases for studies reporting suicide risk measures among transgender or gender expansive people for all dates through September 2023. We reviewed records in Covidence software (© Veritas Health Innovation Ltd). Two reviewers (SS and BH) conducted title and abstract review. Editorials, case reports, and reviews were excluded. All authors conducted full text review, with data abstracted in duplicate. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines informed reporting of findings.
Data abstracted (or calculated) for relevant studies will include:
- Quality rating
- Sample size and sampling strategy
- Study design
- Suicide risk factor/outcome
- Age, gender, race/ethnicity
- Country/US region
Results and Conclusions: Our search identified 3028 unduplicated records. Title and abstract review eliminated 75% of records, with 765 remaining for full text review as of submission. Review and abstraction are currently underway, slated for completion by Spring 2024.
