Our pride, our joy: An intersectional constructivist grounded theory analysis of resources that promote resilience in SGM communities

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Winslow O Edwards, Simon Fraser University; Eliot Lev, University of California, San Francisco; Juno Obedin-Maliver, Stanford University; Mitchell R Lunn, Stanford University; Micah E Lubensky, University of California, San Francisco; Matthew R Capriotti, Stanford University; JJ Garrett-Walker, University of Toronto; Annesa Flentje, University of California, San Francisco
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-02-03
• Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 Edwards et al
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280787
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS One
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Grant/Funding Information: Yes - A.F. was partially supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse [grant number K23DA039800]. J.O.M. was partially supported by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disorders [grant number K12DK111028]. M.R.C. was partially supported by a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the American Academy of Neurology and the Tourette Association of America. Research reported in this article was partially funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award [award number PPRN-1501-26848] to M.R.L. The statements in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI, its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee, nor of the National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and Two-Spirit people, have historically been researched from a deficits-based approach that fails to highlight the ways communities survive and thrive in the face of adversity. This study endeavored to create a model of resources that promote SGM resilience using a sample that amplified traditionally underrepresented perspectives, including individuals from racial and/or ethnic minority groups, trans and/or gender diverse individuals, individuals on the asexual spectrum, and older adults. Methods Participant responses to three open-ended questions from The PRIDE Study’s (an online national longitudinal cohort study of SGM people) 2018 Annual Questionnaire were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. These questions examined what brings people joy and what they appreciate most about their SGM identity. Participants (n = 315) were randomly selected from a larger sample of people who had responded to demographic questions and at least one open-ended question (N = 4,030) in a manner to ensure diverse representation across race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and region of residence. Results The proposed model includes social resources (Connecting with Others, Cultivating Family, Helping Others, Participating in Culture and Spirituality), affective generative resources (Engaging in Enriching Pursuits, Accessing Economic Resources), and introspective resources (Exploring One’s Authentic Self, Persevering through Hardship) that are theorized to contribute to SGM resilience across the life course. Conclusions SGM communities may tap into various resources to promote resilience. As public health practitioners, we can help to foster this resilience by resourcing and supporting initiatives that foster social connection, create spaces for community members to engage with various types of enrichment, facilitate access to economic resources, and provide support and inclusion for all SGM community members.