“She Finally Smiles … for Real”: Reducing Depressive Symptoms and Bolstering Resilience Through a Camp Intervention for LGBTQ Youth

ABSTRACT

While summer camps are a recognized evidence-based strategy for building social and emotional skills among youth (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009), no known studies have evaluated the effects of camp programming for LGBTQ youth in the United States. This pilot study evaluates a novel program (Brave Trails) for LGBTQ youth ages 12 to 20, using a pre-post camper survey (N = 56) and a post-camp parent survey (N = 54). Results show campers experienced increases in identity affirmation and hope and a reduction in depressive symptoms. Regression analyses found changes in identity affirmation predicted reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in resilience. Additionally, campers’ experience of key camp programming features predicted changes in depressive symptoms. Findings from the parent survey were consistent with camper survey results. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• health
• intervention
• depression
• resilience
• identity affirmation
• LGBTQ

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jessica Weissbuch, Kayla Ryan Weissbuch, and Coby Pfaff for their support and keen insights throughout this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism through a summer research grant.