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Pathways of Protection: Adult Support, Peer Climate, and Trans Youth Well-Being in Wisconsin

Amid escalating restrictions on educational supports for transgender and gender diverse youth, I consider the roles of adult support and LGBTQ+ peer density as protective factors for transgender students. I use logistic regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) to analyze data from Wisconsin’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Preliminary results indicate that having a greater number of supportive adults and LGBTQ+ peers is associated with fewer past-year suicide attempts for transgender students. However, the strength and significance of adult support and LGBTQ+ peer density as a moderator between mental health and suicide attempts differ between transgender and cisgender students. These findings provide timely evidence to inform school policies and legislative debates on the importance of gender-inclusive school environments.