Parent and Guardian: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Sexual and Gender Minority-Affirming Caregivers in the United States

Research consistently demonstrates that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience health disparities when compared to their heterosexual, cisgender peers due to identity-based stressors. Over the past several decades, scholars studying resilience in development have identified the importance of effective caregiving in buffering against adversity. However, little is known about the specific practices that caregivers of SGM youth might employ to strengthen their relationships and to provide protection in the context of discrimination. As such, the present study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis with eight self-identified affirming caregivers of SGM youth in the United States to understand their experiences and needs. Results are organized into six superordinate themes that capture caregivers’ experiences: 1) Secondary Minority Stress, 2) Deconstruction and Transformation, 3) Navigating Oppression and Discrimination, 4) Allies and Supports, 5) Affirmative Parenting Practices, and 6) Meaning, Purpose, and Joy. Together, these themes capture participants’ experiences of unique stressors, intrapersonal shifts, and engagement in affirming behaviors on systemic and relational levels as they support their SGM children. In the context of these themes, implications for healthcare providers working with SGM youth and their families are discussed.