What is it about?
Previous research indicates that many LGBTQ persons report participating in activism aimed at advancing the rights of and improving conditions for sexual minorities in society as a collective response to their experiences of heterosexist prejudice, rejection, discrimination and oppression. Our study examines if this participation has positive psychological benefits.
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Why is it important?
Our findings show that participation in LGBTQ activism may enhance one’s sense of meaning in life, encourage community connection, and facilitate problem-solving coping strategies, all important factors that may in turn contribute to positive psychological outcomes, such as post-traumatic growth, among sexual minority persons.
Perspectives
When working with sexual minority persons, professionals might explore activism-based strategies as a potential collective coping response to heterosexism that may foster positive psychological outcomes.
Dawn Szymanski
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: LGBQ activism and positive psychological functioning: The roles of meaning, community connection, and coping., Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, October 2021, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000499.
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