Most American adults support barring trans student athletes from competing

Washington, DC, August 1, 2022

The topline for this poll was updated to show the full results, which includes a range of social issues in addition to what’s outlined below.

Washington, DC, July 8, 2022

The topline for this poll was updated to show support for gun control measures among the American public, in addition to what’s outlined below. To learn more about American’s support for gun control measures, please click here: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-gun-owners-2022

Washington, DC, June 29, 2022

A new NPR/Ipsos poll finds a majority of American adults oppose allowing transgender female student athletes to compete on women’s and girls’ sports teams. At the same time, there is limited support among American adults for state laws and policies that prevent transgender youth from accessing gender transition medical care or that classify gender transition medical care for youth as child abuse.

1. Most Americans are against allowing trans female student athletes to compete on women’s or girls’ sports teams. Deep partisan divides exist.

• Three in five (63%) oppose allowing transgender female student athletes to compete on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
• Democrats are divided on the issue: a plurality (46%) support including trans women student athletes in female sports teams, while a similar number (41%) oppose it.
• In contrast, the majority of both Republicans (88%) and independents (63%) oppose allowing transgender women student athletes from participating in female sports.

2. There are low levels of support among Americans for state laws that prevent trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care. Again, differences exist across party lines.

• Just three in ten (31%) support laws or policies that prevent transgender youth from accessing gender transition medical care.
• Support is higher among Republicans, where a majority (55%) support laws or policies that prevent transgender youth from accessing gender transition medical care.
• Twenty-six percent of Americans support state laws or policies that classify gender transition medical care for youth as child abuse. Support is higher among Republicans, but still falls short of majority support (48%), while just 13% of Democrats support this policy.
• More than one in five Americans are not familiar with state laws that prevent trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care (21%) or that classify such care as child abuse (26%).

About the Study

These are the findings of an NPR/Ipsos poll conducted between June 10-12, 2022. For this study, a sample of 1,028 adults ages 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 273 Republicans, 311 Democrats, and 438 independents or those with other political affiliations.

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.15. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on other sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The data for the total sample were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, education, Census region, metropolitan status, and household income. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2021 March Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS).

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–29, 30–44, 45-59 and 60+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Other, Non-Hispanic, Hispanic, 2+ Races, Non-Hispanic)
• Education (Less than High School, High School, Some College, Bachelor or higher)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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