Protocol for a scoping review on technology use and sexual and gender minority youth and mental health

Doll, K., Craig, S., Lee, Y., Kourgiantakis, T., Lee, E., Dicesare, D., Pearson, A., & Vo, T. (2024). Protocol for a scoping review on technology use and sexual and gender minority youth and mental health. PloS One, 19(1), e0291539–e0291539. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291539

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Background

• There is limited research on the ICT use and the impact on mental health of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY).

• ICT’s play a large role in SGMY lives. Studies show SGMY are spending more than 5 hours a day online with 2-3 devices, which is more than their non-SGMY counterparts.

• Recent literature highlights that ICT’s activity can be affirming, support to foster resilience and benefit wellbeing offline.

• Literature suggests that Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) have higher use of information communication technologies (ICTs) than their non-SGMY counterparts.

• Minority stress theory highlights that SGMY experiences heightened mental health distress and problems through stigma, discrimination, and oppression.

• SGMY experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self harm. Transgender and Gender Diverse populations are seven times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
  

Study Description

• This paper navigates the protocol for an upcoming scoping review: the goal of this study is to review and summarize the literature on SGMY and how their use of ICTs influences their mental health.

• Through summarizing, this paper additionally highlights research gaps for further exploration, and formulate recommendations for new practices, research developments and policies.

• This protocol uses the Arksey and O’Malley framework of review.
  

Conclusions

• The following research questions were identified:

  • (1) how does the literature describe the relationship between SGMY, ICTs and mental health (2) what are the gaps and areas for future research identified in the literature on SGMY, ICTs and mental health? (3) what are the recommendations for new research, practices and policies, and areas for broader implications of any findings? (4) how does the literature describe ICT use and how it’s associated with mental health of SGMY.

• The research team and social work librarian will work together to create a comprehensive list of published literature; focusing on databases such as PsycINFO (Ovid interface, 1980-), MED-LINE (Ovid interface, 1948-), CINAHL (EBSCO interface, 1937-), Sociological Abstracts (Pro-Quest interface, 1952-), Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest interface, 1979-), and Scopus.

• The criteria for inclusion for the scoping review is as follows; 1) written in English or French 2) published on or after 2010 3) focuses on youth 13-25 4) includes all key terms; ICTs, SGMY and Mental Health. 5) Eligible papers for this study include; teaching papers, different types of reviews, conceptual and theoretical papers from peer-reviewed publishers.

• Understanding the relationship between ICT usage and mental health is significant, considering the well documented effect of minority stress and its vulnerabilities to SGMY.