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LGBTQ+ youth in rural America face unique challenges regarding access to resources and support. Despite these adversities, some youth still manage to demonstrate resiliency. Through a qualitative research study with rural LGBTQ+ youth, we learned that online spaces can be where rural queer-identifying youth find the most safety, support, and access to information and peers. LGBTQ+ youth finding support in digital spaces is an emerging area of research, particularly regarding youth in rural settings. This paper will provide findings and discuss them in the context of extant literature and use the data to inform future interventions that promote mental health and wellbeing among rural LGBTQ+ youth.
Methods:
We conducted eleven semi-structured virtual interviews in February-March 2023 with youth ages 13-19 who identified as LGBTQ+ and reported to live in rural Indiana counties. We did not collect demographic information from the youth to protect confidentiality. Participants were recruited through researcher-identified, LGBTQ+ youth-allied organizations and individuals. The youth were given a digital flyer, URL link, and QR code from adults in these organizations to complete a Qualtrics intake form and provide a safe contact name and means for researchers to contact them for interviews. Our interview questions asked youth to discuss times they felt safe, supported, and loved. We then asked youth to imagine LGBTQ+ youth growing up in rural Indiana and what they would need from an ideal family, school, and community to feel loved, supported, and safe. Finally, the respondents were asked what barriers might exist for accessing love, support, and safety and their suggestions for improving services and resources for LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim by Descript software. The transcripts were coded manually, guided by grounded theory and critical queer theory.
Findings:
Seven out of eleven youth interviewed mentioned online activity. One of these youth did state it was “dangerous” to meet people online and did not recommend it. For other youth, online or phone contact were some of the main, only, or easiest ways for youth to interact with peers or to find support and resources. Additionally, the internet can be more accessible than phones due to parents having different perceptions of safety and age-appropriateness of having phones.
Conclusion and Implications:
These findings echo what is shown in current research: LGBTQ+ youth are accessing and using digital spaces more consistently, especially since COVID-19. As advocates, we must be cognizant of this use of digital spaces and ensure these spaces are cultivating a safe and supportive culture for the youth engaging in them. We can also tailor our support as social workers to be more mindful of current digital spaces (e.g. Trevor Space, imi, and QChat) and use or develop them in interventions that foster use and meet LGBTQ+ youth where they are. Moreover, we must recognize that digital spaces are important for rural LGBTQ+ youth, which is a call to action for communities to advocate for internet access and digital literacy skills.