Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract BackgroundParents play a pivotal role in supporting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. Yet only 35% of TGD youth describe their home as a gender-affirming place. Lack of parental support contributes to recent findings that TGD youth are approximately three ti...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| Online Access: | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e66496 |
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| author | Doron Amsalem Merlin Greuel Shuyan Liu Andrés Martin Maya Adam |
| author_facet | Doron Amsalem Merlin Greuel Shuyan Liu Andrés Martin Maya Adam |
| author_sort | Doron Amsalem |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundParents play a pivotal role in supporting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. Yet only 35% of TGD youth describe their home as a gender-affirming place. Lack of parental support contributes to recent findings that TGD youth are approximately three times more likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender peers. In contrast, parents’ affirmation of their children’s gender identity significantly improves their mental health outcomes, by reducing anxiety, depression, and suicidality.
ObjectiveAddressing the urgent need for effective, scalable interventions, this study evaluates a novel digital approach: short, animated storytelling videos. We hypothesized that our 2.5-minute video intervention would reduce antitransgender stigma, or transphobia, and improve attitudes toward gender diverse children among US parents.
MethodsWe recruited 1267 US parents, through the Prolific Academic (Prolific) online research platform, and randomized them into video intervention or control groups. We measured transphobia using the Transgender Stigma Scale, and attitudes toward transgender children using the gender thermometer,
ResultsSingle exposure to a short, animated story video significantly reduced transphobia and improved attitudes toward transgender children among US parents, immediately post intervention. We observed a significant group-by-time interaction in mean Transgender Stigma Scale scores (F2,1PF1Pd
ConclusionsShort, animated storytelling is a novel digital approach with the potential to boost support and affirmation of transgender children, by offering authentic insights into the lived experiences of TGD youth. Repeated exposures to such interventions may be necessary to sustain improvements over time. Future studies could test a series of short, animated storytelling videos featuring the lived experiences of several TGD youth. Evaluating the effect of such a series could contribute to the fields of digital health communication and transgender health. Digital approaches, such as short, animated storytelling videos, that support empathy and acceptance of TGD youth could foster a more inclusive society in which every child can thrive. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad91465ecd374cd4b99a6d627d5366e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2369-2960 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad91465ecd374cd4b99a6d627d5366e12025-01-27T04:55:30ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602025-01-0111e66496e6649610.2196/66496Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled TrialDoron Amsalemhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8056-3211Merlin Greuelhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7430-7051Shuyan Liuhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-6948-5734Andrés Martinhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-5158Maya Adamhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5563-421X Abstract BackgroundParents play a pivotal role in supporting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. Yet only 35% of TGD youth describe their home as a gender-affirming place. Lack of parental support contributes to recent findings that TGD youth are approximately three times more likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender peers. In contrast, parents’ affirmation of their children’s gender identity significantly improves their mental health outcomes, by reducing anxiety, depression, and suicidality. ObjectiveAddressing the urgent need for effective, scalable interventions, this study evaluates a novel digital approach: short, animated storytelling videos. We hypothesized that our 2.5-minute video intervention would reduce antitransgender stigma, or transphobia, and improve attitudes toward gender diverse children among US parents. MethodsWe recruited 1267 US parents, through the Prolific Academic (Prolific) online research platform, and randomized them into video intervention or control groups. We measured transphobia using the Transgender Stigma Scale, and attitudes toward transgender children using the gender thermometer, ResultsSingle exposure to a short, animated story video significantly reduced transphobia and improved attitudes toward transgender children among US parents, immediately post intervention. We observed a significant group-by-time interaction in mean Transgender Stigma Scale scores (F2,1PF1Pd ConclusionsShort, animated storytelling is a novel digital approach with the potential to boost support and affirmation of transgender children, by offering authentic insights into the lived experiences of TGD youth. Repeated exposures to such interventions may be necessary to sustain improvements over time. Future studies could test a series of short, animated storytelling videos featuring the lived experiences of several TGD youth. Evaluating the effect of such a series could contribute to the fields of digital health communication and transgender health. Digital approaches, such as short, animated storytelling videos, that support empathy and acceptance of TGD youth could foster a more inclusive society in which every child can thrive.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e66496 |
| spellingShingle | Doron Amsalem Merlin Greuel Shuyan Liu Andrés Martin Maya Adam Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| title | Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effect of a Short, Animated Storytelling Video on Transphobia Among US Parents: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effect of a short animated storytelling video on transphobia among us parents randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e66496 |
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