Nonbinary people in the family context: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The present systematic review and meta-analysis explores the family context of nonbinary individuals. Aim: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize the studies investigating the life experiences of nonbinary people in their family context. Methods: The articles included were systematically searched in four scientific databases (i.e. PsychInfo, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from March to October 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed original articles with solely nonbinary participants or studies where nonbinary people were distinguished from the overall sample. We excluded studies with participants identifying outside binary gender without specifying as nonbinary and articles lacking original data. Of the 2837 records identified, 37 articles were included. Results: We identified five research themes: (a) family support (n = 16), (b) family reactions (n = 14), (c) disclosure (n = 8), (d) violence and victimization (n = 7), and (e) family functioning, well-being, and mental health (n = 4). In most studies on family reactions to nonbinary gender identity, family members’ negative feelings were prevalent. We used a meta-analytic procedure to compare family support received by nonbinary individuals to both binary transgender people and cisgender people. Findings suggested that nonbinary people perceived less support than both binary (d = 0.18; 6 studies) and cisgender people (d = 0.61; 5 studies). Conclusion: Numerous studies indicated positive relationships with siblings who provided significant support. Coming-out experiences exhibited varying results: Some studies reported positive interactions with family members, while others highlighted negative experiences or decisions to hide gender identity in the family context. Most studies indicated a higher incidence of violence and victimization from family members. The present review and meta-analysis underscore the family’s pivotal role in interventions and emphasize the relevance of collaborating with families to promote the well-being and affirmation of nonbinary people.