Affirmation, Friendship, and Volunteerism: Understanding and Facilitating what Makes LGBTQA+ Young People in Australia Feel Good About Themselves

Author:

McGowan I.,Power J.,Amos N.,Lyons A.,Hill A. O.,Blundell R.,Bourne A.ORCID

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or asexual (LGBTQA+) young people are at heightened risk of suicidality and psychological distress. Interventions in various forms are required to address this issue, which should be informed by the strengths, capacity and insight of LGBTQA+ young people. Methods An online survey was promoted to LGBTQA+ young people (aged 14–21) via targeted social media advertising and community organisation dissemination, in late 2019. In addition to a range of health and wellbeing questions, all participants were asked, ‘What makes you feel good about yourself?’ The open-text responses were subject to a detailed, inductive thematic analysis. Results In total, 4751 young people provided a short answer response to the question of what makes them feel good about themselves. The length of responses ranged from a few words to several paragraphs. Six key themes were identified. These included LGBTQA+ young people finding value in connection with significant others and finding affirmation for their gender and sexuality through their presentation and engagement with the world. In addition, participants talked about how they liked to engage with people they identified with or saw as role models, and how their creative outlets or making a positive difference in the world (e.g., through volunteering) helped them feel good about themselves. Conclusions While ensuring that young LGBTQA+ people have access to mental health services and social/support programs is important, it is also essential that we acknowledge young people’s agency and the significance of everyday, informal acts which support young LGBTQA+ people to achieve desires for connection, acceptance, contribution, belonging and self-expression. Policy Implications Findings reported in this paper offer some valuable insights for policy and programming, particularly in acknowledging and centring young people’s agency and capacity to make decisions and take action to express themselves, to find community and affirm their identity.

Funder

Department of Health, State Government of Victoria

La Trobe University

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3