Q Chat Space: Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet-Based Support Program for LGBTQ Youth
Open accessAbstract
There are few psychosocial support programs specifically designed to meet the unique developmental and health needs of LGBTQ youth. Even when available, many youth face significant barriers to accessing LGBTQ-specific services for fear of being "outed" to parents, peers, and community members. The current study assessed the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of a synchronous, adult-facilitated, chat-based Internet community support program for LGBTQ youth aged 13-19. Chat transcripts were analyzed to examine how LGBTQ youth used the chat-based platform to connect with peers and trusted adults. A separate user satisfaction survey was collected to assess the personal (e.g., sexual orientation, gender identity, age) and contextual (e.g., geography, family environment) characteristics of youth engaging in the platform, their preferred topics of discussion, and their satisfaction with the program focus and facilitators. Qualitative data analysis demonstrated the degree to which LGBTQ youth were comfortable disclosing difficult and challenging situations with family, friends, and in their community and in seeking support from peers and facilitators online. Youth also used the platform to explore facets of sexual and gender identity/expression and self-acceptance. Overall, users were very satisfied with the platform, and participants accurately reflect the program's desired populations for engagement (e.g., LGBTQ youth of color, LGBTQ youth in the South). Together, findings support the feasibility and acceptability of synchronous, adult-facilitated, chat-based Internet programs to connect and support LGBTQ youth, which encourage future research and innovation in service delivery.
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With the challenges that COVID-19 poses to the mental and sexual health of sexual minority young adults, creating a confidential, safe, and supportive online space that fosters development of coping skills such as mindfulness could be an effective and accessible approach to reach and engage vulnerable sexual minority men and enhance population health.
“With the challenges that COVID-19 poses to the mental and sexual health of sexual minority young adults (e.g., increased isolation, lack of access to community support), creating a confidential, safe, and supportive online space that fosters development of coping skills such as mindfulness could be an effective and accessible approach to reach and engage vulnerable sexual minority men and enhance”
From Mindfulness for Reducing Minority Stress and Promoting Health Among Sexual Minority Men: Uncovering Intervention Principles and Techniques (2022) · cites this paper as Fish et al., 2022
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- Authors
- Fish, J. N., Williams, N. D., McInroy, L. B., Paceley, M. S., Edsall, R. N., Devadas, J., Henderson, S. B., & Levine, D. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- University of Kansas (US)
- George Washington University (US)
- Planned Parenthood (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fish, Jessica N.
- Venue
- Prevention Science
- Published
- 2021-09-06
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 130-141
- ISSN
- 1389-4986 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6695
- PMC
- PMC8420963
- OpenAlex
- W3197913029
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6
- FWCI
- 5.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Prevention Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U48DP006382)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P2CHD041041)
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
- Keywords
- LGBTQ youth, psychosocial support, feasibility and acceptability, family disclosure, peer support, sexual and gender identity, self-acceptance, youth satisfaction, access barriers
- MeSH terms
- Sexual and Gender Minorities, Adolescent, Adult, Feasibility Studies, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Internet, Young Adult
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