Nearly 3 Percent Of Teens Identify As Transgender, Study Finds

A new study published Monday in Pediatrics found that more U.S. teens than previously believed identify as transgender or gender nonconforming.

The study estimated that nearly 3 percent of teens identify as such.

Researchers analyzed a 2016 statewide survey of nearly 81,000 Minnesota teens in the 9^th and 11^th grades. Nearly 2,200 of the students identified as transgender or gender nonconforming.

“Diverse gender identities are more prevalent than people would expect,” said lead author Nic Rider, a postdoctoral fellow who studies transgender youth at the University of Minnesota.

A 2017 UCLA study estimated that 0.7 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 and 0.6 percent of adults identify as transgender. Researchers used government data on adults to estimate the number of transgender teens.

“With growing trans visibility in the United States, some youth might find it safer to come out and talk about gender exploration,” Rider said.

Researchers also found that teenagers that identify as transgender or gender nonconforming reported worse mental and physical health than other teens. Previous studies reached similar results. Rider speculated that bullying and discrimination might play a role in health outcomes.