The Interplay between Online and Offline Explorations of Identity, Relationships, and Sex: A Mixed-Methods Study with LGBT Youth

Abstract

Although the Internet is commonly used by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth to explore aspects of sexual health, little is known about how this usage relates to offline explorations and experiences. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the interplay between online and offline explorations of multiple dimensions of sexual health, which include sexually transmitted infections, sexual identities, romantic relationships, and sexual behaviors. A diverse community sample of 32 LGBT youth (ages 16-24) completed semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and then qualitatively coded to identify themes. Results indicated that, although many participants evaluated online sexual health resources with caution, they frequently used the Internet to compensate for perceived limitations in offline resources and relationships. Some participants turned to the Internet to find friends and romantic partners, citing the relative difficulty of establishing offline contact with LGBT peers. Further, participants perceived the Internet as an efficient way to discover offline LGBT events and services relevant to sexual health. These results suggest that LGBT youth are motivated to fill gaps in their offline sexual health resources (e.g., books and personal communications) with online information. The Internet is a setting that can be harnessed to provide support for the successful development of sexual health.

LGBTQ+ Young Adults on the Street and on Campus: Identity as a Product of Social Context

“…Access to technology and informational resources are critical determinants in how LGBTQ young people can learn about their identity and issues related to their well-being (DeHaan, Kuper, Magee, Bigelow, & Mustanski, 2013). From this perspective, the college environment may not only be more conducive to identity development, but it can also expose college students to a wider variety of identity options from which they may choose, whereas homeless young adults may not reach that level of identity complexity as they struggle to meet their basic needs.…”

Seksuele communicatie en aan seksualiteit gerelateerd internetgebruik onder homo- en biseksuele jongeren

“…Omdat relatie-en sekspartners van het eigen geslacht minder in hun directe omgeving te vinden zijn, is de kans aanwezig dat homo-en biseksuele jongeren deze meer dan heterojongeren via het internet vinden (De Haan, Kuper, Magee, Bigelow, & Mustanski, 2013;Pingel, Bauermeister, Johns, Eisenberg, & Leslie-Santana, 2013). In Amerikaanse onderzoeken kwam het uitwisselen van seksueel getinte beelden frequent voor onder jonge mannen die seks hebben met mannen (Bauermeister, Yeagley, Meanley & Pingel, 2014) en jonge biseksuele vrouwen (Klettke, Hallford, & Mellor, 2014).…”

“…Daarnaast consumeren in het algemeen mannen vaker seksueel prikkelend materiaal dan vrouwen (Peter & Valkenburg, 2011;Traeen et al, 2006). Op basis van de literatuur die hierboven is beschreven, verwachten wij dat homo-en biseksuele jongeren zich vergeleken met heterojongeren in mindere mate tot ouders en vrienden wenden bij vragen of problemen over seks (Friedman & Morgan, 2009;Rose & Friedman, 2012) en dat ze meer gebruik maken van internet voor informatie, sociale steun en het zoeken van partners voor relaties en seks (De Haan et al, 2013;Mitchell et al, 2014;Pingel et al, 2013;Ybarra et al, 2015). Ook verwachten we dat homoseksuele jongens en biseksuele jongens en meisjes naar verhouding meer gebruik maken van seksueel expliciet materiaal dan heterojongeren (Rutgers WPF, 2013).…”

“…Op internet kunnen zij gelijkgestemden vinden, zowel om advies en ervaringen te delen (Bond et al, 2009;Mitchell et al, 2014;Ybarra et al, 2015) als om relatie-en sekspartners te zoeken (De Haan et al, 2013;Pingel et al, 2013;McKie et al, 2015). Homo-en biseksuele jongeren waarderen digitale technologieën ook omdat internet hun een zekere mate van anonimiteit geeft (Doorduin & Van Lee, 2013).…”

Fuzziness in LGBT non-profit ICT use

“…This is particularly true for LGBT youth, who often use online communication to supplement their perceived limited offline exposure to other members of the community [3]. GLSEN et al [4] found that half of LGBT youth with less offline community participation connected with other community members online, and 14% said they had "first disclosed their LGBT identity to someone online".…”