Authors: Austin, F., Wright, K, E., Jackson, B., Lin, A., Schweizer, K. & Furzer, B, J.
Date of publication: 2024
Journal: Mental Health and Physical Activity
Summary: Physical activity has long been known to provide desirable health outcomes and this Australian study reviewed 12 studies which explored trans young people’s experiences of physical activity, sport and exercise.
The review found that transgender young people have lower levels of engagement in physical activity in comparison to their cisgender peers. The reasons found for this were decreased feelings of safety and the increased barriers faced by this population. Gendered changerooms and bodily exposure via sports clothing was found consistently to be a significant barrier to engagements. In addition to this, increased fear of transphobia and bullying resulted in heightened levels of distress relating to sport.
The authors recommend that moving forward, visible affirming sporting policies and procedures, new sporting configurations (e.g. moving away from traditionally gendered teams, alternative or individualised options) would support increased engagement in physical activity by transgender young people
You can read the full study here
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