ERIC Number: ED601056
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Apr-12
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Teens Helping Teens: Investigating Adolescents' Talk about Sexual Identity on an Online Message Board
Brion-Meisels, Gretchen A.; Parodi, Katharine
AERA Online Paper Repository, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Washington, D.C., Apr 8-12, 2016)
Adolescents increasingly use online, peer-to-peer platforms as a site of identity exploration and development. Prior research suggests that experiences online can foster feelings of connection and belonging, as well as promote a willingness to engage in self-disclosure during a critical developmental period; however, only recently has research explored how LGBTQ youth use these spaces. This study investigates how adolescents using an online message board to discuss sexuality and sexual identity describe their reasons for writing. Drawing on a content analysis and qualitative coding, our findings suggest that LGBTQ adolescents often visit this space to resolve feelings of confusion, isolation, or rejection. Implications for researchers and practitioners are explored.
Descriptors: Adolescents, Sexual Identity, Discussion Groups, LGBTQ People, Computer Mediated Communication, Peer Counseling
AERA Online Paper Repository. Available from: American Educational Research Association. 1430 K Street NW Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-238-3200; Fax: 202-238-3250; e-mail: subscriptions@aera.net; Web site: http://www.aera.net
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A