The Impact of Membership in a Support Group for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students

Dietz, Tracy J.; Dettlaff, Alan J.

doi:10.1300/j035v12n01_06

Cited by 28 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Lee (2002), for example, argued that GSAs play an important role by providing a safe place for the development of positive relationships. Participants in a number of studies have reported, in line with Lee's assertion, that their relationships with others improved as a result of their involvement in GSAs (Dietz, 1997;Hecht, 1998). Similarly, the support afforded youth by having connections with supportive sexual minority faculty in their schools has been shown to increase a sense of belonging as well as to increase the likelihood that the student would offi cially report incidents of harassment or assault to school officials.…”

Section: The Impact Of Gsasmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Sexual minority youth often report feeling socially and emotionally isolated in their lives (Dietz, 1997;Hetrick & Martin, 1987;Jacobs, 1996) and in their experiences of the educational system (Mudrey & Medina Adams, 2006;Peters, 2003;Rofes, 1990). They frequently do not know to whom they might turn for support as they work through identity develop ment processes, learn to cope with stigma associated with being a sexual minority member and/or gender nonconforming, face struggles with relationships, and encounter numerous other issues that arise for these youth (Miceli, 2005).…”

Section: Isolationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gay—Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth

Kane²,

2009

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Recent findings on the impact of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) on the school experiences of sexual minority youth have demonstrated that numerous positive outcomes are associated with attending schools that have such student organizations. Some research attributes the positive impact to shifts in campus climate resulting from recognition and legitimization of GSAs, whereas other research suggests the influence is primarily because of the increased social support that sexual minority youth experience. This study examines how GSAs affect sexual minority youth by comparing school expe rience variables of three discrete groups of sexual minority students: (a) those who attend schools without GSAs, (b) those who attend schools with GSAs but are not members, and (c) those who attend schools with GSAs of which they are members. Findings suggest that the presence of the GSA positively affects more school experiences than whether or not the sexual minority youth is an actual member of the group.

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Section: The Impact Of Gsasmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Isolationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gay—Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth

Kane²,

2009

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“…Although communities built on sexual identity are by no means utopian, evidence suggests that, regardless of age, for some LGBT individuals, particularly those who remain in the closet, small groups and networks have been a primary source of support offering benefits including a sense of connectedness and a reduction in feelings of isolation and loneliness (Dietz and Dettlaff, 1997). It is suggested by Krause (2001) that even if it is not accessed, the belief that social support is available may boost self-esteem and autonomy.…”

Section: A Sense Of Community and Belongingnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness and Belongingness in Older Lesbians: The Role of Social Groups as “Community”

Wilkens

2015

Journal of Lesbian Studies

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This article explores loneliness and isolation in older lesbians, looking at the benefits offered by an over-55 fortnightly social group in Yorkshire. I argue that the women interviewed were more vulnerable to loneliness than their heterosexual counterparts as a direct consequence of many years of privacy and self-concealment and because they were more likely to be single, childless, and have fractured relationships with birth families; all significant losses viewed by the women as the "price you paid" for being a lesbian. Although the group did not completely alleviate loneliness, it provided a place of safety and offered a sanctuary where participants could be themselves and where friendships and other groups were formed. For many women, the group's exclusivity to older lesbians and bisexual women was deeply significant and influenced their decision to attend. I suggest that such groups have a vital role to play in promoting older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender well-being and offering protection against loneliness and isolation in older age.

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“…Westerfield, Maples, Buford, and Taylor (2001) call for colleges to increase their level of professionally mediated social supports. Dietz and Dettlaff (1997) found that group members who came to a group already "out" found a sense of community and became mentors for members who were in the process of coming out. "Closeted students felt alone, afraid, and hopeless, and many held negative views of themselves as GLB.…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Youth in the Coming-Out Process: Theory-Based Programming

Dunlap

2014

Smith College Studies in Social Work

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This article outlines the problems faced by today's same-sex attracted youth and provides a framework for administrators, social workers, and teachers to develop well-planned and specifically targeted supports for this often vulnerable population. Research on risk factors for same-sex attracted youth are reviewed, and three theories of coming out (stage models, constructivist models, and a self-psychology theory) are interwoven to provide a retheorizing of coming out appropriate to our same-sex attracted youth in our present-day communities. Specific recommendations for clinical social work practice follow from this examination of the coming-out process.

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The Impact of Membership in a Support Group for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students

Cited by 28 publications

References 10 publications

Gay—Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth

Gay—Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth

Loneliness and Belongingness in Older Lesbians: The Role of Social Groups as “Community”

Supporting Youth in the Coming-Out Process: Theory-Based Programming

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