Reframing Parental Identity: Transitions Toward Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children in French-Speaking Belgium
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study explores the lived experiences of parents of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) children in French-speaking Belgium, focusing on the challenges they encounter, the resources they mobilize, and the processes shaping their ability to support their child. Twenty-one parents (including five couples) of TGD adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 29 were interviewed between May and December 2024. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, we explored how parental identity evolves in relation to their child’s journey. Findings reveal four interconnected dimensions framed by Identity Process Theory. Parents first navigate identity discovery, often accompanied by guilt, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil. They then engage in meaning-making, reinterpreting past events and seeking coherence in their child’s identity. Gradually, they adjust their parental role, confront institutional barriers, and develop advocacy skills. Throughout, ambivalence persists, as fear for the future, isolation, and uncertainty coexist with renewed bonds of love and pride. The results underscore the intense emotional and relational work parents undertake and highlight the decisive role of supportive professionals, inclusive institutions, and peer networks. Supporting parents is not secondary but vital to the well-being of TGD youth, making the strengthening of family support systems an urgent priority.
Authors: Julie Servais, Isabelle Godin, Bram Vanhoutte
Institution: Université Libre de Bruxelles
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7146977788
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