Feasibility and Acceptability Study of Virtual Reality Support Groups for Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth.

Abstract

Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth are facing unprecedented levels of social and structural stigmatization and discrimination. Antitransgender legislation almost exclusively focuses on limiting affirming supports for TGE youth by utilizing stigmatizing rhetoric surrounding transgender identities based on myths and disinformation. In the face of increasing societal oppression, TGE individuals report higher rates of experienced discrimination, violence, and social rejection. Interventions that promote individual and community resilience are vital to supporting the wellbeing of TGE youth. Virtual support groups and therapies for TGE youth may be essential as in-person access to affirming spaces continues to be limited. In this article, we present feasibility and acceptability data of a social virtual reality (VR) tool to support TGE youth for whom in-person supports may not exist and for whom video-based telehealth platforms may trigger dysphoria. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 10 TGE youth participants on the feasibility and acceptability of an eight-week, VR social support group, prior to transitioning to a peer-to-peer model based on overwhelming participant feedback. We posit that gender affirming VR support groups and therapies may help increase critical resilience factors for TGE youth that are being restricted from gender affirming supports and call for further research to investigate the usefulness of VR and other immersive platforms to support gender affirmation and community connection.