scholarly journals A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescent Responses to YouTube Videos Portraying Sexual and Gender Minority Experiences: Belonging, Community, and Information Seeking

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan A. Levinson ◽  
Patricia M. Greenfield ◽  
Jenna C. Signorelli

Sexual and gender minority youth are at risk for negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and suicide, due to stigma. Fortunately, sense of community, connection, and social support can ameliorate these deleterious effects. Youth express that most of their social support comes from peers and in-school organizations, but these sources require in-person interaction. Past research has identified social media sites as virtual and anonymous sources of support for these youth, but the role of YouTube specifically in this process has not been thoroughly explored. This study explores YouTube as a possible virtual source of support for sexual and gender minority youth by examining the ecological comments left on YouTube videos. A qualitative thematic analysis of YouTube comments resulted in six common themes in self-identified adolescents' YouTube comments: sharing, relating, information-seeking, gratitude, realization, and validation. Most commonly, adolescents shared feelings and experiences related to their identity, especially when they could relate to the experiences discussed in the videos. These young people also used their comments to ask for identity-related advice or information, treating the platform as a source of education. Results suggest that sexual minority youth's use of YouTube can be advantageous for social support and community, identity-related information, identity development, and overall well-being.

2020 ◽  
pp. 074355842093322
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Ceccolini ◽  
V. Paul Poteat ◽  
Jerel P. Calzo ◽  
Hirokazu Yoshikawa ◽  
Kasey Meyer

Research among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth has suggested associations between Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) involvement and better health. Emergent research has similarly demonstrated associations between family support and general well-being among SGM youth. However, the trait of bravery has received little attention in this literature, despite its relevance for youth in marginalized positions. We examined the association between level of GSA involvement, family support, and bravery among GSA members ( n = 295; Mage = 16.07), and whether those associations differed based on sexual orientation or gender identity. We then conducted one-on-one interviews with SGM youth ( n = 10), to understand how they understood bravery and experienced support in both GSA and family contexts. Greater GSA involvement significantly predicted greater bravery for all youth, whereas greater family support predicted greater bravery only for heterosexual youth. No significant moderation was found for gender minority youth. Our qualitative findings clarified how SGM youth conceptualized bravery and how they experienced it within their GSA and family settings. GSAs were associated with more frequent displays of explicit support for SGM identity, while families were perceived as providing less explicit support.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. e2020033134
Author(s):  
Kimberly J. Mitchell ◽  
Victoria Banyard ◽  
Kimberly L. Goodman ◽  
Ida F. StrØm ◽  
Michele L. Ybarra

10.2196/20547 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e20547
Author(s):  
Shelley L Craig ◽  
Andrew D Eaton ◽  
Rachael Pascoe ◽  
Egag Egag ◽  
Lauren B McInroy ◽  
...  

Background The experiences of resilience and intersectionality in the lives of contemporary sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) are important to explore. SGMY face unique experiences of discrimination in both online and offline environments, yet simultaneously build community and seek support in innovative ways. SGMY who identify as transgender, trans, or gender nonconforming and have experiences with child welfare, homelessness, or immigration have been particularly understudied. A qualitative exploration that leverages technology may derive new understanding of the negotiations of risk, resilience, and identity intersections that impact the well-being of vulnerable SGMY. Objective The objectives of the QueerVIEW study were to (1) enhance understanding of SGMY identities, both online and offline, (2) identify experiences of intersectionality among culturally, regionally, and racially diverse SGMY in Ontario, Canada, (3) explore online and offline sources of resilience for SGMY, and (4) develop and apply a virtual photo elicitation methodological approach. Methods This is the first study to pilot a completely virtual approach to a photo elicitation investigation with youth, including data collection, recruitment, interviewing, and analysis. Recruited through social media, SGMY completed a brief screening survey, submitted 10 to 15 digital photos, and then participated in an individual semistructured interview that focused on their photos and related life experiences. Online data collection methods were employed through encrypted online file transfer and secure online interviews. Data is being analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach, with six coders participating in structured online meetings that triangulated photo, video, and textual data. Results Data collection with 30 participants has been completed and analyses are underway. SGMY expressed appreciation for the photo elicitation and online design of the study and many reported experiencing an emotional catharsis from participating in this process. It is anticipated that results will form a model of how participants work toward integrating their online and offline experiences and identities into developing a sense of themselves as resilient. Conclusions This protocol presents an innovative, technology-enabled qualitative study that completely digitized a popular arts-based methodology—photo elicitation—that has potential utility for contemporary research with marginalized populations. The research design and triangulated analyses can generate more nuanced conceptualizations of SGMY identities and resilience than more traditional approaches. Considerations for conducting online research may be useful for other qualitative research. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/20547


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley L Craig ◽  
Andrew D Eaton ◽  
Rachael Pascoe ◽  
Egag Egag ◽  
Lauren B McInroy ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The experiences of resilience and intersectionality in the lives of contemporary sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) are important to explore. SGMY face unique experiences of discrimination in both online and offline environments, yet simultaneously build community and seek support in innovative ways. SGMY who identify as transgender, trans, or gender nonconforming and have experiences with child welfare, homelessness, or immigration have been particularly understudied. A qualitative exploration that leverages technology may derive new understanding of the negotiations of risk, resilience, and identity intersections that impact the well-being of vulnerable SGMY. OBJECTIVE The objectives of the QueerVIEW study were to (1) enhance understanding of SGMY identities, both online and offline, (2) identify experiences of intersectionality among culturally, regionally, and racially diverse SGMY in Ontario, Canada, (3) explore online and offline sources of resilience for SGMY, and (4) develop and apply a virtual photo elicitation methodological approach. METHODS This is the first study to pilot a completely virtual approach to a photo elicitation investigation with youth, including data collection, recruitment, interviewing, and analysis. Recruited through social media, SGMY completed a brief screening survey, submitted 10 to 15 digital photos, and then participated in an individual semistructured interview that focused on their photos and related life experiences. Online data collection methods were employed through encrypted online file transfer and secure online interviews. Data is being analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach, with six coders participating in structured online meetings that triangulated photo, video, and textual data. RESULTS Data collection with 30 participants has been completed and analyses are underway. SGMY expressed appreciation for the photo elicitation and online design of the study and many reported experiencing an emotional catharsis from participating in this process. It is anticipated that results will form a model of how participants work toward integrating their online and offline experiences and identities into developing a sense of themselves as resilient. CONCLUSIONS This protocol presents an innovative, technology-enabled qualitative study that completely digitized a popular arts-based methodology—photo elicitation—that has potential utility for contemporary research with marginalized populations. The research design and triangulated analyses can generate more nuanced conceptualizations of SGMY identities and resilience than more traditional approaches. Considerations for conducting online research may be useful for other qualitative research. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/20547


2020 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra H. Bettis ◽  
Elizabeth C. Thompson ◽  
Taylor A. Burke ◽  
Jacqueline Nesi ◽  
Anastacia Y. Kudinova ◽  
...  

Groupwork ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-57
Author(s):  
Shelley L Craig ◽  
Wook Yang ◽  
Ashley Austin

The current study examined the efficacy of an affirmative group cognitive behavioral intervention on the sexual self-efficacy level of sexual and gender minority youths (SGMY). SGMY (n=30) between the age of 15 and 18 participated in a series of eight cognitive behavioral-focused groups. They also completed measures on sexual self-efficacy before and after the intervention. Paired sample t-test was chosen as method of analysis. The results indicated a statistically significant increase in protection sexual self-efficacy but not in abstinence sexual self-efficacy post intervention.The current study concluded that affirmative groups that utilize cognitive behavioral therapy show promise for SGMY. Group content and process is detailed, and key components of groups designed to improve the sexual health of SGMY are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document