Psychological sense of community, community civic participation, and ethnic identity on social justice orientation and psychological empowerment between LGBQ and Non-LGBQ youth of color

Abstract

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) youth of color, the intersection of identifying as both LGBQ and a person of color results in not only managing racial stereotypes, but also heterosexism and genderism. Developing a critical understanding of oppressive social conditions and ways to engage in social action is a form of resistance for these youth. Research is needed among LGBQ youth of color that examines the range of predictors and outcomes related to civic engagement, development, and empowerment. Drawing on data derived from a sample of urban youth of color (N = 383; 53.1% Female; 75% Hispanic; Age range = 14 to 18 years; 15% identify as LGBQ), this study will: (1) examine the relationship between community-based perceptions (e.g., psychological sense of community), ethnic identity, behaviors (e.g., community civic participation) and awareness of social justice concerns with dimensions of psychological empowerment; and (2) assess differences that these relationships have between LGBQ and non-LGBQ youth of color. Findings indicate that main predictors have a positive impact on intrapersonal and cognitive dimensions of psychological empowerment through social justice orientation, with noted variations between LGBQ and non-LGBQ youth of color.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• activism
• empowerment
• Hispanic/Latinx youth
• LGBQ youth

Notes

1 The authors have used the abbreviation LGBQ throughout this article. The “T” for Trans* identifying persons was removed due to this specific subgroup not being examined in the data of this study, as well as youth and adults in this group having often diverging experiences even among those with LGBQ identities. Further, some articles referred to in the introduction use variations on this acronym but for clarity we have kept this term consistent. The LGBQ term was utilized in this study because youth could only identify as one of these four options in this survey that was created by The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) National Minority SA/ HIV Prevention Initiative federal grant program, a limitation discussed later. This limitation will be improved in future research in the field to reflect greater diversity.

Additional information

Funding

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Grant No. SPO20229-01

Notes on contributors

David T. Lardier

David T. Lardier is an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico in the Department of Individual, Family and Community Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, with an affiliate faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He has research experience with federally funded youth participatory action research (YPAR), youth empowerment, and evidence-based adolescent wellness education interventions. Dr. Lardier currently evaluates federally funded prevention intervention grants, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Ijeoma Opara

Ijeoma Opara is an Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University, School of Social Welfare. Dr. Opara is also a Visiting Faculty at Yale University School of Public Health in the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS. She is an expert on youth empowerment, community-based participatory research, youth substance use prevention research, and utilizing families in prevention work with urban youth. Dr. Opara’s program of research involves highlighting racial and gender health disparities and investigating social, familial, and cultural protective factors for Substance Use, HIV/AIDS, and STI prevention among adolescents.

Mary Kathryn Brammer

Mary Kathryn Brammer is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education program at the University of New Mexico. Her work experience spans a variety of counseling settings, including K-12 and higher education environments, and community-based mental health services. Ms. Brammer is a National Certified Counselor, and Licensed Professional Counselor in New Mexico. Her interests include working with LGBTQ + individuals, and the creation of nurturing counseling and educational environments across settings. She has directed trainings on effectively working with marginalized sexual/affectional and gender youth in counseling.

Stacy A. Pinto

Stacy A. Pinto is currently the lead faculty for School Counseling@Denver program. Dr. Pinto’s experience spans a variety of counseling settings, including K-12 and higher education environments, and both in-home and community-based mental health services. She is a National Certified Counselor, and both a certified School Counselor and Licensed Associate Counselor in the State of New Jersey. Her interests include intersectionality, queer issues across the lifespan, sexual identity labeling and language, and the creation of nurturing counseling and educational environments across settings.

Pauline Garcia-Reid

Pauline Garcia-Reid is a professor in Family Science and Human Development, with an affiliate appointment in the Center for Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. Dr. Garcia-Reid’s research interests include youth substance use and violence prevention, social justice and advocacy within a culturally-grounded social work lens, and practice and research with racial and ethnic minority children and families. Dr. Garcia-Reid is the Primary Investigator (PI) on a federally funded prevention-intervention grant, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Robert J. Reid

Robert J. Reid is a professor in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. Dr. Reid’s research focuses on the development, coordination, and testing of community-wide prevention initiatives to reduce risk and to promote protective factors associated with various health behaviors, such as adolescent substance abuse, sexual risk, and youth violence. Dr. Reid also serves as Primary Investigator (PI) on a federally funded prevention-intervention grants, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).