Navigating negativity: A grounded theory and integrative mixed methods investigation of how sexual and gender minority youth cope with negative comments online

Project #Queery
Written By INQYR

Shelley L. Craig, Andrew D. Eaton, Lauren B. McInroy, Sandra A. D’Souza, Sreedevi Krishnan, Gordon A. Wells, Lloyd Twum-Siaw & Vivian W. Y. Leung (2020) Navigating negativity: a grounded theory and integrative mixed methods investigation of how sexual and gender minority youth cope with negative comments online. Psychology & Sexuality, 11(3), 161-179. doi: 10.1080/19419899.2019.1665575

Highlights

Background

  • Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) who use internet enabled information and communication technologies (ICTs) can experience greater harassment and negativity online

  • SGMY who experience cyberbullying are at a greater risk for developing behavioral and psychological issues

  • The effects of negative and anti-SGM online comments on the wellbeing of youths and their ability to cope with it have not been explored sufficiently in research

Study Description

  • A mixed methods cross sectional online survey was used where 5,243 participants from Canada and the United States aged 14-24, responded to open-ended questions regarding how they dealt with negative online comments

  • Participants indicated their genders and sexualities from a range of identities provided

  • Grounded theory was used to analyze the data and model the online negativity faced by SGMY

  • A mixed methods analysis was used and the data was quantified by coders so that SGMY experiences were grouped into seven broad themes and 17 sub-themes of coping behaviors

Key Findings

  • The avoidance strategy of ignoring negative comments and avoiding certain websites was most used by participants as a coping mechanism

  • SGMY are more likely to defend others against discrimination through sharing knowledge opposed to defending themselves

  • The way SGMY choose to respond to negative comments can take the form of adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies that can impact their mental health and wellbeing

Conclusion

  • ICTs can be used as a vehicle for individuals to direct negative comments towards SGMY but may also be used by SGMY to confront discriminatory content and enhance resilience

  • SGMY use a variety of coping strategies to overcome online stressors encountered through ICT usage

INQYR
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