1. Preliminary Research Findings
How Internet Usage may Foster Resiliency for Sexual Minorities Phillip Hau Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Paul Jerry Graduate Center for Applied Psychology Athabasca University
Background
Research typically highlights the issues confronted by sexual minorities as opposed to the strengths and personal agency (Grace & Wells, 2015; Saewyc, 2011; Savin-Williams, 2008; Theriault & Witt, 2014).
As a result, the findings contribute to a bleak picture for sexual minorities and leaves out stories of resilience. (Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000).
In my research study, I will explore how Internet use fosters resiliency for sexual minorities.
Literature Review
A common feature of resiliency is the ability to withstand or overcome significant obstacles (Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005).
Components of Resiliency
Behavioural components – what one does in the face of adversity (Singh & McKleory, 2011).
Personal growth – what one learns from the experience (Estefan & Roughley, 2013).
Ecological factors – one’s environment and its influence on the actions and personal growth for the individual (Ungar, 2011).
The internet has presented a new landscape for sexual minorities to come out and express their identities (Szulc & Dhoest, 2015)
Online experiences may have a ripple effect on how one perceives oneself offline.
There are many advantages of using the Internet to foster resiliency
It’s considered a safe environment (Szulc & Dhoest, 2013)
It’s accessible (DeHaan et al., 2013)
Access to research (Bond et al., 2009)
sharing coming out narratives (Taylor et al., 2014).
Research Method
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is a qualitative research method that aims to understand lived experiences, events, relationships, and process (Larkin, Eatough, & Osborn, 2011; Reid, Flowers, & Larkin, 2005)
IPA draws upon an inductive approach to research (Reid et al., 2005) - it aims to create understanding through data rather than testing an hypothesis (Smith, & Osborn, 2003).
This study will draw upon White, cis-gender, gay men to learn about their experience using the Internet to foster resiliency development.
Data collection will be carried out through in-person interviews between August and October 2017
Implications
The Internet can be used for sexual minorities to engage in identity development in a safe space.
Sexual minorities use the Internet to create supportive networks and form groups of people with similar interests
The Internet can be used as a medium for sexual minorities to seek out supports and have their experiences validated and normalized
References
Bond, B. J., Hefner, V., & Drogos, K. L. (2009). Information-seeking practice during the sexual development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: The influence and effects of coming out in a mediated environment. Sexuality and Culture, 13,
Craig, S. L., & McInroy, L. (2014). You can form a part of yourself online: The influence of new media on identity development and coming out for LGBTQ youth. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 18(1),
DeHaan, S., Kuper,L. E., Magee, J. C., Bigelow, L., & Mustanski, B. S. (2013). The interplay between online and offline explorations of identity, relationships, and sex: A mixed-methods study with lgbt youth. Journal of Sex Research, 50(5),
Estefan, A., & Roughley, R. A. (2013). Composing self on narrative landscape of sexual difference: A story of wisdom and resilience. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 47(1), Retrieved from
Fergus, S., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2005). Adolescent resilience: A framework for understanding healthy development in the face of risk. Annual Review of Public Health, 26,
Grace, A. P. & Wells, K. (2015) Growing into resilience: Sexual and gender minority youth in Canada. Part II with K. Wells. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Larkin, M., Eatough, V., & Osborn, M. (2011). Interpretative phenomenological analysis and embodied active, situated cognition. Theory & Psychology, 21(3), doi: /
Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construction of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), Retrieved from
Saewyc, E. M. (2011). Research on adolescent sexual orientation: Development, health disparities, stigma, and resilience. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 256– x
Savin-Williams, R.C. (2008). Then and now: Recruitment, definition, diversity, and positive attributes of same-sex populations. Developmental Psychology, 44(1),
Singh, A., A., & McKleroy, V. S. (2011). “Just getting out of bed is a revolutionary act”: The resilience of transgender people of color who have survived traumatic life events. Tramatology, 17(2),
Smith, J.A., & Osborn, M. (2003) Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In: Smith, J. A. (ed) Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods. Sage Publications Ltd, London
Szulc, T., & Dhoest, A. (2013). The internet and sexual identity formation: Comparing internet use before and after coming out. Communications, 38(4),
Reid, K., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2005). Exploring lived experience. Psychologist, 18 (1), Retrieved from
Taylor, Y., Falconer, E., & Snowdon, R. (2014). Queer youth, facebook and faith: Facebook methodologies and online identities. New Media and Society, 16(7),
Theriault, D., & Witt, P. A. (2014). Features of positive developmental leisure settings for LGBTQ youth. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 32(2), Retrieved from
Ungar, M. (2011). The social ecology of resilience: Addressing contextual and cultural ambiguity of a nascent construct. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(1), x
Preliminary Research Findings
Positive features of using the Internet to foster resiliency
1) Accessibility of information
“[There were] no way to research what gayness is or was or anything like that until the end of grade 11… “[The Internet] has definitely helped me stay connected… I am (fairly) up to date on queer news and events …I also used the internet for romantic pursuits with dating apps and messaging people I met on Tumblr.”
2) Engaging in supportive communities
“I have maintained connection with queer friends. I do want to be connected with the community for sure; it is relevant to me and it reminds me that my existence as a gay person are not as lonely as living in a place with (basically) 0 visible queerness”
3) Developing self-acceptance
“I am who I am and we just have to navigate ourselves through a world of everyone else doing the same... I also communicate with more queer people now that I have come out.”
Drawbacks in using the Internet
1) Experiences of isolation
“I felt somewhat isolated form that group because I’m not really into fashion, pop divas, shopping, or the gym, which I really feel are some of the main/largest stereotypes or groups that I encounter online.”
2) Quality of the connections
“The limit is that the relationship (however that looks – community, friend, etc.) is usually bound to the internet”