Transforming families: evaluation of a digital resource to enhance parental support for trans children

Background Parental support is a critical protective factor for trans and gender diverse children, yet many parents lack access to trustworthy, evidence-based information. The Transforming Families project aimed to address this gap by co-designing a digital resource to enhance parental understanding, support, and acceptance.Aims This study evaluated whether use of the Transforming Families website was associated with changes in (a) parental acceptance of their child’s gender identity, (b) well-being, (c) psychological distress, (d) parent–child relationship quality, and (e) supportive behaviors, and examined site feasibility and acceptability.Methods A pre–post design was used. Parents of trans children under 25 years living in Australia completed questionnaires at baseline (N = 146) and at three-month follow-up (n = 45). Surveys assessed well-being, psychological distress, parent–child relationship quality, supportive behaviors specific to gender identity, and parental acceptance. Demographic information was collected at baseline. Website analytics provided feasibility data. Dependent t-tests examined changes over time.Results Parents reported high baseline acceptance and supportive behaviors but poor well-being and elevated psychological distress. Significant improvements were observed in parental acceptance, well-being, and parent–child relationship quality at follow-up, while supportive behaviors and psychological distress remained stable. Website analytics indicated strong feasibility and sustained engagement across key pages. Acceptability ratings were high, with most parents satisfied with the resource and likely to reuse or recommend it.Conclusions Preliminary findings suggest that the Transforming Families digital resource may enhance parental acceptance, well-being, and parent–child relationship quality, and is feasible and acceptable for parents of trans children. Further evaluation with larger, more diverse samples and more rigorous designs is needed to determine long-term outcomes and broader applicability.