Peer support as a protective factor against suicide in trans populations: A scoping review
Abstract
Rationale There is a growing body of research involving transgender (trans) individuals that foregrounds elevated rates of suicidality in trans populations. Although peer support is increasingly studied as a protective factor against suicide among trans persons, the scholarship in this area continues to be limited and has yet to be synthesized and appraised.Objective In this paper, we address this existing gap in the literature by presenting the results of a scoping review of the literature examining the significance and function of peer support in mitigating suicide risk in trans populations.Methods This scoping review is based on an analysis of 34 studies that were included following the execution of a methodical search and selection process. Drawing on scoping review methodology, along with PRISMA-P guidelines, we selected peer-reviewed empirical works, published between 2000 and 2020, which examined relationships between providing, seeking, and/or receiving peer support and suicide risk in trans populations.Results Our findings, which are conceptualized using the minority stress model as a guiding theoretical framework, reveal that while the literature generally substantiates the protective significance of peer support for trans persons, a small body of work also uncovers novel and unanticipated sources of peer support, including social support offered by trans peers online, which are infrequently and inconsistently examined in this body of scholarship.Conclusions Using our appraisal of the literature, we outline the need for future research to further elucidate the significance and function of peer support in protecting against suicide among trans persons. In particular, we discuss the need for exploratory inquiry to inform a conceptualization and operationalization of peer support that more fully and consistently accounts for how such support (including online and community-based support) is sought, received, and experienced among trans persons in the context of suicide.
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Peer support, community connectedness, and family support are critical in mitigating the negative effects of these stressors, particularly among trans individuals.
“Peer support, community connectedness, and family support are critical in mitigating the negative effects of these stressors, particularly among trans individuals (31).”
Peer support plays a vital role in buffering against the negative mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation and behavior, associated with minority stress.
“Peer support, as a form of social support from fellow minority group members, plays a vital role in buffering against the negative mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation and behavior, associated with minority stress (31).”
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“…having health insurance, peer support, and trans resiliency (e.g., accepting being transgender, disclosing trans identity, and self-advocacy) (Kia et al., 2021; Rabasco & Andover, 2021). i a l Using a life course perspective, the purpose of this study was to compare the experiences of two…”
MethodMeter, A. V., & Agrawal, N. (2022) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health · doi:10.2989/17280583.2023.2283030 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…adults experiencing mental health problems (Andalibi & Flood, 2021; Baumel, 2015), and for young people whose identity may make it harder for them to seek support in their immediate communities such as youth who do not identify as heterosexual and cisgender (Fish et al ., 2020; Kia et al ., 2021) .”
BackgroundStrenth, C. R., Smith, M., Gonzalez, L., Grant, A., Thakur, B., & Kamugisha, E. L. (2024) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106678 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Paciente, R., Kouznetsova, E., Shrimali, T., Strauss, P., Lombardi, K., & Woolard, A. J. (2025) · International Journal of Transgender Health · doi:10.1080/26895269.2025.2492613 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Winter, N., Ugalde, A., Coyne, E., Dieperink, K. B., Jongebloed, H., & Livingston, P. M. (2024) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-024-19144-y · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Peer support among LGBTQIA + groups has strong evidence in supporting mental wellbeing, particularly within the transgender community [50, 51].”
BackgroundResultTrauma-Informed Practice with Individuals with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Mirick, R. G., Bridger, J., & McCauley, J. (2024) · Clinical Social Work Journal · doi:10.1007/s10615-024-00955-w · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In contrast, there has been a plethora of recent research on the high rates of suicide for transgender/ gender queer individuals (Kia et al., 2021; Trevor Project, 2022).”
“Internet hugs”: The use of Reddit as a valuable form of social support during medical transitioning
Scott, S. C., Davis, B. D., & Abramovich, A. (2025) · International Journal of Transgender Health · doi:10.1080/26895269.2025.2520956 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
TikTok in Transgender Health: Is It Really Useful for Plastic Surgeons?
Hassan, B., Mroueh, J., Mroueh, V., Escandón, J. M., Ali-Khan, S., Corral, G. D., Ciudad, P., & Manrique, O. J. (2023) · Transgender Health · doi:10.1089/trgh.2022.0043 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“17 According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 33% of respondents had at least one negative interaction with a health care provider (e.g., verbal harassment).”
Song, L., Liu, C., Zhou, Y., Ju, C., Luo, Q., Cheng, J., Huang, D., Chen, H., Chen, J., Tan, W., et al. (2024) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.16479 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Scrofani, S., Martin, C. L., Johnson, S. L., Low, S. K., & DeLay, D. (2025) · Journal of School Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101459 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Informal Care Work From a Queer Lens: Challenging Heteronormative Paradigms
Wiesböck, L., Osipova, E., & O’Connor, E. (2025) · Sociology Compass · doi:10.1111/soc4.70111 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Vaz, G. S. C., Jaques, U., & Salomé, S. A. F. F. (2022) · Brazilian Journal of Health Review · doi:10.34119/bjhrv5n5-126 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Children's attitudes about transgender identity disclosure and concealment
Alonso, D. J., Jordan, A. E., & Gülgöz, S. (2024) · British Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjdp.12493 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Indeed, peer support is a main protective factor in transgender youth's well-being (Durwood et al., 2021; Johns et al., 2018; Kia et al., 2021); thus, understanding how cisgender and fellow gender-diverse children think about trans concealment and disclosure decisions is critical to promoting…”
RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES
Bangalan, S. G., Otanes, M. E. M., & Escalona, A. M. (2023) · ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.54615/2231-7805.47306 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Moreover, social support was found to be significantly associated with suicidal behavior [17-21].”
BackgroundExploring the Experiences of Young LGBTQA+ Australians’ Use of Offline and Online Peer Support
Pellegrino, R., & Patlamazoglou, L. (2024) · Journal of Homosexuality · doi:10.1080/00918369.2024.2440375 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“In more recent years, the bulk of the research has focused on gender diverse youth (Allen et al., 2019; Johnson & Rogers, 2019; Kia et al., 2021, 2023).”
Sevelius, J. M., Saggese, G. S. R., Gonzales, J. L. G., de Carvalho, P. G. C., Santos, C. A. D. S., Wanzeller, M. D. M. D. O., Lippman, S. A., & Veras, M. A. D. S. M. (2024) · Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde · doi:10.1590/s2237-96222024v33e2024324.especial.en · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Relationship Between Depression and Suicide Attempts: The Moderating Effect of Social Network
Kim, D., Lee, Y., & Choi, S. (2025) · Japanese Psychological Research · doi:10.1111/jpr.12570 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Fowler, J. A., Crilly, T., Reyment, M., Franks, N., Warzywoda, S., Bisshop, F., Wood, P., & Dean, J. A. (2025) · International Journal of Transgender Health · doi:10.1080/15532739.2025.2464235 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Exploring trans youths’ future orientations as a product of experiences of dis/affirmation
Lim, G., Buckingham, P., McGowan, I., Grant, R., Amos, N., Anderson, J., & Bourne, A. H. (2025) · Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1177/14407833251314008 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“That Billie characterises this source of af fi rmation as lifesaving is likely not hyperbole, given the elevated incidence of suicide among trans youth, as well as the protective effect exerted by peer support (Kia et al., 2021).”
Chinsen, A., Tollit, M. A., Heye, P. L., Pang, K. C., Cronin, T. J., & Pace, C. C. (2025) · International Journal of Transgender Health · doi:10.1080/15532739.2025.2472950 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Proposed French recommendations for breast cancer screening in the trans population
Brousse, S., MORIN-CHARBONNIER, M.-C., Guillermet, S., Briet, M., Harter, S., Lescure, C., Crivelli, L., Lemerre-Poincloux, J., Leproust, B., Tas, M., et al. (2025) · Innovative Practice in Breast Health · doi:10.1016/j.ibreh.2025.100041 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Velotta, S. K., Barnes, S. E., Lopez, A., Sanchez, I. A., Corvin, C., Fletcher, L., Zullo, L., & Sheerin, K. M. (2025) · Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health · doi:10.1080/23794925.2025.2556670 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Prior research has also demonstrated that support from peers acts as a buffer against risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among SGMY (Kia et al., 2021; McCormick, 2017).”
Matijczak, A., Wagaman, M. A., Hall, C. J., Goldin, K., Shelton, J., & Roberts, C. (2025) · Child & Youth Services · doi:10.1080/0145935x.2025.2561696 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
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Johnson, A. H., Rogers, B. A., Hill, I., & Bialer, R. (2023) · Social movement studies · doi:10.1080/14742837.2023.2216638
“There is an established body of interdisciplinary research demonstrating the role of peer support in interrupting the psychological consequences of identity related stress among trans people (Dowers et al., 2020; Kia et al., 2021; McCann & Brown, 2017; Sherman et al., 2020).”
Bird, K., Arcelus, J., Matsagoura, L., O'Shea, B., & Townsend, E. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4498559
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Implicit Bias in School-Based Suicide Risk Assessment
Munson, J. A. G. (2023) · doi:10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6248
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“Previous research has revealed that transgender individuals, especially adolescents, are “three times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and suicidality” (Selkie et al., 2020: 275; see also Kia et al., 2021).”
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Five Decades of Research on Rape Myths and Victim Interpretation
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“Research has also identified protective factors buffering SA risk for TGD people, including having a supportive family or peers (Bird et al., 2024; Kia et al., 2021), accessing desired gender-affirming medical care (Almazan and Keuroghlian, 2021), living in places with gender identity…”
IMPACT OF PEER SUPPORT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS: A SCOPING REVIEW
ROSA-PEREIRA, M. D. S., & Pessôa, L. F. (2026) · Revista de Geopolítica · doi:10.56238/revgeov17n8-179
“Although peer support is well known (Kia et al. , 2021; Lyons, Cooper & Lloyd-Evans, 2021; Wobma et al. , 2016) it is not widely used in randomized controlled trials with people who have substance use disorders.”
Scialdone, A., Pillai, T., Khanna, S., Hunter, E., Lin, E., & Patel, A. (2026) · Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet · doi:10.1080/15398285.2026.2730913
- Authors
- Kia, H., MacKinnon, K. R., Abramovich, A., & Bonato, S.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- York University (CA)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Kia, Hannah
- Venue
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-06
- Volume
- 279
- Pages
- 114026
- ISSN
- 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3162533137
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 1.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- The University of British Columbia
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
- Keywords
- peer support, suicide risk, transgender people, suicide prevention, minority stress model, online peer support, social support, protective factors
- MeSH terms
- Suicide Prevention, Female, Humans, Male, Peer Group, Social Support, Suicidal Ideation, Transgender Persons, Protective Factors
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