A therapeutic movement program for adolescents engaged in gender diversity services
The Movement Program: Feasibility of a trans-specific exercise program for adolescent clients at gender diversity services
The University of Western Australia
20 participants
Feb 26, 2025
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
Trans and gender diverse adolescents face heightened physical and mental health challenges, with elevated rates of depression, self-harm, and suicide attempts (Strauss et al., 2020). Potential risks to cardiometabolic health also exist due to gender affirming medical therapy and unhealthy behaviors (Spanos et al., 2020). Given the well acknowledged benefits of physical activity for physical and mental health (Biddle & Asare., 2011), exercise presents a novel but underexplored strategy to mitigate some of the adverse mental and physical health symptoms and contribute to improve overall health and wellbeing of trans adolescents (Storr et al., 2021). The WA Gender Diversity Service is an outpatient service located at Perth Children’s Hospital that provides adolescents with a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment, care, and management of gender diversity. Currently there are no exercise services part of standard care within the WA service, nor is exercise incorporated as standard care in any gender services across Australia. The "Movement Program" is a twelve-week exercise intervention for adolescents within the GENder identiTy Longitudinal Experience Cohort (GENTLE cohort; RGS320). In collaboration with stakeholders, we aim to create and assess an evidence-based exercise intervention for bettering health, physical activity, and well-being of trans adolescents. The study will enable us to understand the impact exercise can have on trans adolescents’ health and wellbeing and whether providing such support during key developmental stages will also support trans adolescents in developing healthy (or healthier) physical activity behaviours. We propose to deliver the program over 2025 and anticipate up to 20 GENTLE adolescents participating in the intervention. We aim to enhance service delivery and address a significant gap in international research by developing this project within the GENTLE Cohort. Our goal is to determine whether this evidence-based exercise service can complement the current health services of the WA Gender Diversity Service.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- All intervention participants will be current patients who are engaged with the Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth Children’s Hospital Gender Diversity Service and who have consented to be part of the GENTLE Cohort (Children and Adolescent Health Service Health Research Ethics Committee RGS0000000320).
- Intervention participants must have a sufficient command of the English language to be able to consent/assent or have parent/carer consent to participation.
Exclusion Criteria1
- Participants will be excluded if they are unable to safely participate in exercise based on pre-exercise screening (ESSA., 2022).
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Interventions
- The "Movement Program" is a twelve-week exercise intervention for adolescents within the GENder identiTy Longitudinal Experience Cohort (GENTLE cohort; RGS0000000320). - Frequency and mode of administration: one supervised group exercise session per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Groups of minimum 3, maximum 10 participants. - Intensity: The program's activities are designed to be adaptable, with exercises that can be progressed and/or regressed to suit varying age groups and abilities, ensuring all participants are both engaged and appropriately challenged. Progression may include increased duration of activity, greater resistance, or more complex movements. Session intensity will be assessed via a Borg RPE at the end of each session. Overall session intensity will range from moderate to vigorous depending on participant presentations. - Time: Each session will run for 60 minutes. - Type of exercises prescribed: Each exercise session will include a variety of elements, described below, and can be tailored for individual differences, needs and abilities. A warm-up and check-in will be undertaken (e.g., adequate nutritional intake, any new injuries, mood check in) to prepare the participants for physical activity and allow for exercise modifications or limitations. Followed by cardiorespiratory fitness activities that elevate heart and breathing rates (e.g., running, dancing, or aerobic fitness games); muscular strength exercises targeting strength and endurance of various muscle groups, using free weight equipment or bodyweight (e.g., push-ups, squats, planks); sport skill development or games to assist team building and socialisation (e.g., soccer, pickleball, or floorball). - Strategies to monitor adherence: session attendance checklists are completed at the end of each session by the exercise instructor in their clinical handover notes. Reason for absenteeism are also written down in the session checklist. - Elements specifically tailored to trans adolescents include: The movement program will be held at local community recreational spaces, including indoor (e.g., halls) and outdoor spaces (e.g., ovals). These venues will be carefully set up to prioritise the safety and inclusive environment for trans adolescents. For example, creating a safe and inclusive space may include removing or covering mirrors, displaying LGBTQIA+ affirming signage, providing all-gender bathroom access, and offering orientation and inductions to help participants feel comfortable, familiarised and supported in the space.
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12625000351415