Our pride, our joy: An intersectional constructivist grounded theory analysis of resources that promote resilience in SGM communities

Abstract

Introduction Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and Two-Spirit people, have historically been researched from a deficits-based approach that fails to highlight the ways communities survive and thrive in the face of adversity. This study endeavored to create a model of resources that promote SGM resilience using a sample that amplified traditionally underrepresented perspectives, including individuals from racial and/or ethnic minority groups, trans and/or gender diverse individuals, individuals on the asexual spectrum, and older adults. Methods Participant responses to three open-ended questions from The PRIDE Study’s (an online national longitudinal cohort study of SGM people) 2018 Annual Questionnaire were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. These questions examined what brings people joy and what they appreciate most about their SGM identity. Participants (n = 315) were randomly selected from a larger sample of people who had responded to demographic questions and at least one open-ended question (N = 4,030) in a manner to ensure diverse representation across race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and region of residence. Results The proposed model includes social resources (Connecting with Others, Cultivating Family, Helping Others, Participating in Culture and Spirituality), affective generative resources (Engaging in Enriching Pursuits, Accessing Economic Resources), and introspective resources (Exploring One’s Authentic Self, Persevering through Hardship) that are theorized to contribute to SGM resilience across the life course. Conclusions SGM communities may tap into various resources to promote resilience. As public health practitioners, we can help to foster this resilience by resourcing and supporting initiatives that foster social connection, create spaces for community members to engage with various types of enrichment, facilitate access to economic resources, and provide support and inclusion for all SGM community members.

To Whom It May Affirm: Considerations for Advancing LGBTQIA+ Equity in Research

“…LGBTQIA+ populations in their work in a way that meaningfully characterizes their life experiences and research priorities. This includes collecting data that characterizes systems of oppression (e.g., transantagonism 1 ) and the manifestations of those systems (e.g., restricting access to genderaffirming care) (Zeeman et al, 2019) so that we can disrupt those systems, as well as collecting data that characterizes the strengths of the LGBTQIA+ community (e.g., community support) and how those strengths confer resilience and joy for the community (Colpitts & Gahagan, 2016;Edwards et al, 2023). In this section, we highlight the need for meaningful…”

“…Beyond simply identifying these failings in public health systems and opportunities to respond to them, it also is important to take a strength-based approach in research with LGBTQIA+ populations. Strengthbased approaches depart from research that focuses on deficits by acknowledging the positive strengths and protective factors, like resilience, that influence lived experiences (Colpitts & Gahagan, 2016;Edwards et al, 2023;Ghabrial & Andersen, 2021;Kia et al, 2023).…”

“…2 These strengthbased and community-driven solutions present an alternative to disparities-focused research, which often uses deficit framing and stigmatizing language. They further challenge the notion that addressing deficits is the best way to improve health by acknowledging that one's identities and experiences can confer many protective factors (Crosby et al, 2016;Edwards et al, 2023). This has prompted researchers from national and community-serving organizations to advocate for the collection of LGBTQIA+-related data in most areas of public health research and the adoption of research practices that promote engagement with LGBTQIA+ populations and their research priorities (Fenway Institute, 2014;National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2022;National Science and Technology Council, 2023).…”

Perinatal Depression Screening Among Sexual Minority Women

“…Little is known about the prevalence or sequelae of perinatal depression among sexual minority cisgender women, defined as people assigned female at birth and self-identified as women (cisgender) who have sexual or romantic relationships with other women and/or do not identify as exclusively heterosexual. Sexual minority women include women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, asexual, demisexual, and kinky as well as other-identified women who have sex with women . Approximately 1 in 6 US births occur among sexual minority women, representing more than 635 000 births annually .…”

“…Sexual minority women include women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, asexual, demisexual, and kinky as well as other-identified women who have sex with women. [9][10][11] Approximately 1 in 6 US births occur among sexual minority women, 12 representing more than 635 000 births annually. 13 A recent systematic review 14 of 26 studies involving 1199 participants described features of perinatal mental health among sexual and gender minority individuals.…”