Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth have the potential for considerable resilience. Positive media repre- sentations may mediate negative experiences and foster self-esteem, yet the relationship between resilience and both traditional offline and new online media remains underaddressed for this popula- tion. This grounded-theory exploration of media-based resilience- building activities by LGBTQ youth (n = 19) indicated four themes that media use enabled: coping through escapism; feeling stronger; fighting back; and finding and fostering community. Data are em- bedded to evidence thematic findings and incorporate participant voices. The importance of considering the media within contempo- rary LGBTQ youth’s ecological framework to capture their resilience is considered.
Media: A Catalyst for Resilience in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth
By Shelley L. Craig, Lauren McInroy, Lance T. McCready, and Ramona Alaggia, 2015
