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The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant disruption across the globe. Populations that had experienced prior health disparities were uniquely impacted, including LGBTQ+ people who experienced elevated social isolation and were more likely to work in “frontline” service-related jobs.
According to assumptive world theory, major traumatic events can challenge people’s fundamental beliefs about the world. A creative mindset can help people to reimagine and reconcile old and newly formed beliefs into a new schema, as well as build an outlet for catharsis, a sense of control, and renewed focus and purpose. Engaging in creative activities can help people to create meaning and promote well-being. However, little research has examined how creativity may be helpful for LGBTQ+ people in the pandemic. The present study analyzes multimedia data from LGBTQ+ adults living in the Southeast U.S., answering two research questions: (a) How are LGBTQ+ adults engaging in creative activity during the COVID-19 pandemic? (b) How is creativity beneficial to LGBTQ+ adults in the pandemic context?
Methods
This research was part of a larger multimedia study about how LGBTQ+ adults in the Southeastern United States found ways to cope and resist oppression during COVID-19. The project collected multimedia data about LGBTQ+ adults’ lives from September 2020-August 2021 through monthly diary entries submitted as text, photograph, audio, and/or video. A subset of participants (n=8) were invited to engage in quarterly Zoom interviews. Monthly diaries focused on topics such as adaptability and arts and culture. A community advisory board guided the project’s design and recruitment.
To be eligible for this study, individuals had to identify as LGBTQ+, be aged 18 or older, and live in one of nine southern states. Study announcements were shared with local LGBTQ+ community organizations, email lists, and on social media. Eligible individuals were invited via email to complete a pre-survey and participate in monthly diaries.
Within the study sample (N=30), ages ranged from 18-73 (M=36). Most (60%, n=18) identified as white, 23.3% (n=7) as Black, and 13.3% (n=4) as another race or ethnicity. Forty percent (n=12) were cisgender men, 30% (n=9) were transgender/non-binary, and 26.7% (n=8) were cisgender women.
We used a 4-step content analysis process to examine diary entries and interview transcripts. For the visual data (photographs/videos), we used Shankar’s (2019) approach of “listening” to visuals, including how they called us to suspend assumptions and forefront questions of power, value, and affect.
Results
Participants engaged in creativity in various ways that gave back to community & demonstrated community care, that promoted social connection and belonging, and that “kept their own company.” The benefits of creativity included: supporting one’s own health; encouraging personal growth; promoting self-expression, self-acceptance, and gratitude; escaping stress and having fun; finding inspiration; nurturing a sense of control and hope; making useful things; and resisting oppression.
Conclusions & Implications
Our presentation will include discussion of how social work interventions can promote creativity and the arts among LGBTQ+ adults and contribute to efforts to rebuild LGBTQ+ community connections that were made more tenuous during the pandemic.