Project #Queery
Project #Queery studied the online activities of queer youth in Canada and The United States. Below we list a selection of our related publications and findings. For the full list, visit our ResearchGate.
Craig, S. L., Eaton, A. D., McInroy, L. B., Leung, V. W. Y., & Krishnan, S. (2021). Can Social Media Participation Enhance LGBTQ+ Youth Well-Being? Development of the Social Media Benefits Scale. Social Media + Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305121988931
Social media sites offer critical opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) youth to enhance well-being through exploring their identities, accessing resources, and connecting with peers. Yet extant measures of youth social media use disproportionately focus on the detrimental impacts of online participation, such as overuse and cyberbullying. This study developed a Social Media Benefits Scale (SMBS) through an online survey with a diverse sample (n = 6,178) of LGBTQ+ youth aged 14–29. This article discusses the scale’s development, exploratory properties, and implications for research and professional practice.
Craig, S., Eaton, A., McInroy, L., D’Souza, S., Krishnan, S., Wells, G., Twum-Siaw, L. and Leung, V., 2019. Navigating negativity: a grounded theory and integrative mixed methods investigation of how sexual and gender minority youth cope with negative comments online. Psychology & Sexuality, 11(3), pp.161-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2019.1665575
Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) often lack support to navigate their minority identities and elevated psychosocial risks. When their offline environment presents challenges to wellbeing, many SGMY turn to internet-enabled information and communication technologies (ICTs) to develop identities, cope with daily stressors, and access support. However, online environments also contain negativity, including comments which display anti-sexual and gender minority (SGM) biases. Such content differs from cyberbullying, which is typically intentional and perpetrated by offline peers. It is critical to understand how SGMY cope with negative comments online, as these interactions may threaten resilience.
Craig, S., Austin, A., Levenson, J., Leung, V., Eaton, A. and D’Souza, S., 2020. Frequencies and patterns of adverse childhood events in LGBTQ+ youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 107, p.104623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104623
Trauma, specifically adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), predicts significant health and mental health disparities, yet there is a paucity of research with LGBTQ + youth. This study explores ACE prevalence in a large sample of LGBTQ+ youth; examined ACE patterns within and across subgroups; and compared results with the general population. This study also identifies implications for trauma-informed practice and research.
McInroy, L., Beaujolais, B., Leung, V., Craig, S., Eaton, A. and Austin, A., 2020. Comparing asexual and non-asexual sexual minority adolescents and young adults: stressors, suicidality and mental and behavioural health risk outcomes. Psychology & Sexuality, pp.1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2020.1806103
Despite increasing scholarship on sexual minority youth (SMY), little is known about the experiences and outcomes of those who identify as asexual. This study investigates how internal and external stressors, mental health, and health risk behaviours differ between asexual youth and other SMY. Results indicate that asexual youth had significantly higher internalised LGBTQ-phobia and tended to have poorer mental health (e.g., higher rates of depression), while having experienced less interpersonal discrimination/prejudice and having engaged in fewer health risk behaviours (e.g., substance use). Findings have implications for clinical practice. Future research should continue to investigate the impact of risk and protective factors on outcomes for asexual young people.
Social media sites offer critical opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) youth to enhance well-being through exploring their identities, accessing resources, and connecting with peers. Yet extant measures of youth social media use disproportionately focus on the detrimental impacts of online participation, such as overuse and cyberbullying. This study developed a Social Media Benefits Scale (SMBS) through an online survey with a diverse sample (n = 6,178) of LGBTQ+ youth aged 14–29. This article discusses the scale’s development, exploratory properties, and implications for research and professional practice.
Craig, S., Eaton, A., McInroy, L., D’Souza, S., Krishnan, S., Wells, G., Twum-Siaw, L. and Leung, V., 2019. Navigating negativity: a grounded theory and integrative mixed methods investigation of how sexual and gender minority youth cope with negative comments online. Psychology & Sexuality, 11(3), pp.161-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2019.1665575
Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) often lack support to navigate their minority identities and elevated psychosocial risks. When their offline environment presents challenges to wellbeing, many SGMY turn to internet-enabled information and communication technologies (ICTs) to develop identities, cope with daily stressors, and access support. However, online environments also contain negativity, including comments which display anti-sexual and gender minority (SGM) biases. Such content differs from cyberbullying, which is typically intentional and perpetrated by offline peers. It is critical to understand how SGMY cope with negative comments online, as these interactions may threaten resilience.
Craig, S., Austin, A., Levenson, J., Leung, V., Eaton, A. and D’Souza, S., 2020. Frequencies and patterns of adverse childhood events in LGBTQ+ youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 107, p.104623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104623
Trauma, specifically adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), predicts significant health and mental health disparities, yet there is a paucity of research with LGBTQ + youth. This study explores ACE prevalence in a large sample of LGBTQ+ youth; examined ACE patterns within and across subgroups; and compared results with the general population. This study also identifies implications for trauma-informed practice and research.
McInroy, L., Beaujolais, B., Leung, V., Craig, S., Eaton, A. and Austin, A., 2020. Comparing asexual and non-asexual sexual minority adolescents and young adults: stressors, suicidality and mental and behavioural health risk outcomes. Psychology & Sexuality, pp.1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2020.1806103
Despite increasing scholarship on sexual minority youth (SMY), little is known about the experiences and outcomes of those who identify as asexual. This study investigates how internal and external stressors, mental health, and health risk behaviours differ between asexual youth and other SMY. Results indicate that asexual youth had significantly higher internalised LGBTQ-phobia and tended to have poorer mental health (e.g., higher rates of depression), while having experienced less interpersonal discrimination/prejudice and having engaged in fewer health risk behaviours (e.g., substance use). Findings have implications for clinical practice. Future research should continue to investigate the impact of risk and protective factors on outcomes for asexual young people.
