Social isolation has been shown to have negative impacts on various aspects of mental health in adolescents, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality.
There is limited research specifically examining the effects of social isolation on queer youth's identities, self-concept, and resilience. This study aimed to explore these issues in a sample of LGBTQ+ teenagers aged 14-18 years old. Participants were recruited through online forums, support groups, and community centers. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis.
The results showed that many participants felt isolated due to their non-heteronormative gender expression, sexual identity, or romantic orientation. They reported feeling alienated from peers who did not understand or accept their identities, and having difficulty forming relationships outside of their immediate family members. This led to feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence in themselves as individuals. Many also expressed struggles with navigating their own identities, experiencing dissonance between their internal experiences and external expectations.
Some felt that they lacked access to resources or role models within their communities that could help them build resilience and develop positive coping strategies.
Some participants reported finding ways to overcome these challenges by seeking out new social networks and engaging in activities that affirmed their identities. Some had even found queer-specific support systems that helped them feel seen and validated. Others relied on creative pursuits such as art, writing, or music to process their emotions and build a sense of self-worth. These findings highlight the importance of providing tailored resources and support services for queer youth who may experience social isolation, and suggest that further research is needed to better understand how these factors impact the development of healthy identities and resilience in this population.
How does social isolation influence self-concept, identity coherence, and resilience in queer youth?
In the context of queer youth, social isolation can have a significant impact on self-concept, identity coherence, and resilience. Self-concept refers to an individual's perception and evaluation of themselves as a unique and separate entity from others, while identity coherence involves how well individuals integrate their various identities into a cohesive whole.