Exploring Mental Health Impacts of LGBTQIA+ Experiences on Social Media
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This study examines risk for suicidal ideation and hypervigilance among LGBTQIA+ youth exposed to anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric on social media. Previous studies have found that hypervigilance in LGBTQIA+ individuals is associated with depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and lower life satisfaction (Riggle et al., 2021). Research has also found that social media usage is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in LGBTQIA+ youth (Klinger et al., 2024). An online anonymous survey consisting of demographic questions, Cole et al.’s online social support scale (OSSS), Bernstein et al.’s brief hypervigilance scale (BHS), a suicidal ideation scale (SIS), and questionnaires assessing social media usage and experiences was distributed through Qualtrics Survey Panel. 313 participants completed the survey. Findings suggest that higher amounts of social media usage are positively correlated with suicidal ideation and hypervigilance in LGBTQIA+ young adults. Findings additionally suggest that hypervigilance, suicidal ideation, and higher amounts of social media usage have negative impacts on being “out” as LGBTQIA+ to family and friends in real life. The study found a significant positive correlation between feelings of suicidal ideation and hypervigilance. Hypervigilance (M = 14.12, SD = 4.74) and suicidal ideation (M = 6.70, SD = 2.52) levels are moderate in this sample. These results emphasize the need for more extensive hate speech moderation on social media platforms to ensure online and mental wellness for LGBTQIA+ young adults. The results additionally call for expanded suicide prevention and mental health support resources to improve quality of life for LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing adverse mental health symptoms. Addressing these issues will help promote online, mental, and social wellness in LGBTQIA+ young adults. Future research will involve stimulating social media feeds and measuring participant cortisol levels to assess participant stress, hypervigilance, and suicidal ideation.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS – Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anisah Bagasra
Exploring Mental Health Impacts of LGBTQIA+ Experiences on Social Media
This study examines risk for suicidal ideation and hypervigilance among LGBTQIA+ youth exposed to anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric on social media. Previous studies have found that hypervigilance in LGBTQIA+ individuals is associated with depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and lower life satisfaction (Riggle et al., 2021). Research has also found that social media usage is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in LGBTQIA+ youth (Klinger et al., 2024). An online anonymous survey consisting of demographic questions, Cole et al.’s online social support scale (OSSS), Bernstein et al.’s brief hypervigilance scale (BHS), a suicidal ideation scale (SIS), and questionnaires assessing social media usage and experiences was distributed through Qualtrics Survey Panel. 313 participants completed the survey. Findings suggest that higher amounts of social media usage are positively correlated with suicidal ideation and hypervigilance in LGBTQIA+ young adults. Findings additionally suggest that hypervigilance, suicidal ideation, and higher amounts of social media usage have negative impacts on being “out” as LGBTQIA+ to family and friends in real life. The study found a significant positive correlation between feelings of suicidal ideation and hypervigilance. Hypervigilance (M = 14.12, SD = 4.74) and suicidal ideation (M = 6.70, SD = 2.52) levels are moderate in this sample. These results emphasize the need for more extensive hate speech moderation on social media platforms to ensure online and mental wellness for LGBTQIA+ young adults. The results additionally call for expanded suicide prevention and mental health support resources to improve quality of life for LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing adverse mental health symptoms. Addressing these issues will help promote online, mental, and social wellness in LGBTQIA+ young adults. Future research will involve stimulating social media feeds and measuring participant cortisol levels to assess participant stress, hypervigilance, and suicidal ideation.