April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Rural Dwelling as a Risk Factor for Mental Health and Well-Being For LGBTQ+ Youth: The Mechanism of Social Support
Background
Existing literature posits that LGBTQ+ individuals are at higher risk than their heterosexual peers of experiencing mental health disorders, violence, and discrimination of their sexuality minority status (Russell & Fish, 2016; Boyce et. al 2018; Flores et. al, 2022). Considering these clear and present dangers, more research needs to examine how LGBTQ+ individuals cope with adverse experiences. One research avenue is to explore how LGBTQ+ individuals experience social support as a coping strategy that has been demonstrated to be protective against mental health disorders and other negative outcomes of stressors (Crowley et al., 2023; Fingerhut, 2018; Humble, 2021).
There are a number of channels through which members of the LGBTQ+ community can obtain social support. The channels relevant herein are in person and mediated sources. The current study seeks to understand whether these forms of social support will vary for LGBTQ+ emerging adults from urban, suburban, and rural geographic areas.
Hypotheses and Research Questions
H1: Compared to urban and suburban youth, rural s who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or questioning will report a) fewer in person strong ties, and therefore b) lower in-person social support.
H2: Compared to urban and suburban youth, rural youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or questioning will report a) more mediated online strong ties, and therefore b) higher mediated online social support.
H3: More in person strong ties will be associated with a) lower depression, b) lower anxiety, c) lower social isolation, and d) higher general well-being, through the mediator of in person social support.
RQ1: Will mediated online strong ties and mediated online social support be associated with a) depression, b) anxiety, c) social isolation, and d) general well-being through the mediator of mediated online social support?
Methods and Initial Results
Data collection took place via survey panel Prolific and was hosted on Qualtrics. Inclusion criteria were to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, be 18-25 years old, and live in the United States. Participants completed a consent form prior to completing the survey. Respondents were asked questions about in person social support, in person strong and weak ties, media (television, film, video games, social media) social support, media strong and weak ties, depression, anxiety, isolation, and general well-being. The final sample consisted of 208 participants. Preliminary analyses suggest that in-person ties are the most important for enhancing mental health.
Discussion
The current study is a stepping stone into learning more about social support among LGBTQ+ individuals from different geographic areas. In a time when homophobia and transphobia persist in person and in online spaces, it is of paramount importance that the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals be highlighted in scholarship.
Existing literature posits that LGBTQ+ individuals are at higher risk than their heterosexual peers of experiencing mental health disorders, violence, and discrimination of their sexuality minority status (Russell & Fish, 2016; Boyce et. al 2018; Flores et. al, 2022). Considering these clear and present dangers, more research needs to examine how LGBTQ+ individuals cope with adverse experiences. One research avenue is to explore how LGBTQ+ individuals experience social support as a coping strategy that has been demonstrated to be protective against mental health disorders and other negative outcomes of stressors (Crowley et al., 2023; Fingerhut, 2018; Humble, 2021).
There are a number of channels through which members of the LGBTQ+ community can obtain social support. The channels relevant herein are in person and mediated sources. The current study seeks to understand whether these forms of social support will vary for LGBTQ+ emerging adults from urban, suburban, and rural geographic areas.
Hypotheses and Research Questions
H1: Compared to urban and suburban youth, rural s who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or questioning will report a) fewer in person strong ties, and therefore b) lower in-person social support.
H2: Compared to urban and suburban youth, rural youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or questioning will report a) more mediated online strong ties, and therefore b) higher mediated online social support.
H3: More in person strong ties will be associated with a) lower depression, b) lower anxiety, c) lower social isolation, and d) higher general well-being, through the mediator of in person social support.
RQ1: Will mediated online strong ties and mediated online social support be associated with a) depression, b) anxiety, c) social isolation, and d) general well-being through the mediator of mediated online social support?
Methods and Initial Results
Data collection took place via survey panel Prolific and was hosted on Qualtrics. Inclusion criteria were to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, be 18-25 years old, and live in the United States. Participants completed a consent form prior to completing the survey. Respondents were asked questions about in person social support, in person strong and weak ties, media (television, film, video games, social media) social support, media strong and weak ties, depression, anxiety, isolation, and general well-being. The final sample consisted of 208 participants. Preliminary analyses suggest that in-person ties are the most important for enhancing mental health.
Discussion
The current study is a stepping stone into learning more about social support among LGBTQ+ individuals from different geographic areas. In a time when homophobia and transphobia persist in person and in online spaces, it is of paramount importance that the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals be highlighted in scholarship.