Factors contributing to the development of resilience in LGBTQIA+ students.

Resilience refers primarily to positive adaptation or the ability to maintain or regain mental health despite experiencing adversity.

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There are many pathways to developing resilience, which interact and include biological, psychological, and attitudinal attributes, in conjunction with social support systems such as family, friends, school, and community.

This concept has been somewhat difficult to operationalize, as some view resilience as a personal trait, while others tend to view it as a dynamic process. There are many pathways to developing resilience, which interact and include biological, psychological, and attitudinal attributes, in conjunction with social support systems such as family, friends, school, and community. Personal factors include self-esteem, intellectual functioning, cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation. The literature on the subject also reports environmental factors at the macro and micro levels. At the micro environmental level, social support includes family and peer relationships, secure attachment with mothers, family stability and absence of depression in the mother. Social support can come from peers, teachers and other significant adults. At the macro and systemic level, community factors are noted, such as good schools, sports and artistic opportunities, cultural factors, spirituality and religion.

Specifically for gay and bisexual youth, social support becomes a primary validating space necessary for the development of an identity and for the achievement of personal and social goals. Russell and Richards (2003) identify five (5) factors that influence the resilience of GLB youth:

1. Perspective of being part of a social movement and understanding the impact of homophobia and other oppressions.

2. Ability to confront internalized homophobia.

3. Expression of emotions (courage, associated sadness).

4. Family acceptance and support.

5. Contact with other members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Other research finds a relationship between self-esteem, resilience and disclosure of gay and lesbian identity (Savin-Williams and Diamond, 2000; Savin-Williams, 2005). Although, there are other studies that indicate that disclosing LGBTQIA+ sexual identity has been associated with different negative consequences (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, high levels of suicidal ideation and attempts, victimization) in the lives of these adolescents (Lothwell et al., 2020).

Russell, G. M., & Richards, J. A. (2003). Stressor and resilience factors for lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals confronting antigay politics. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31(3), 313-328.

Savin-Williams, R. C., & Diamond, L. M. (2000). Sexual identity trajectories among sexual-minority youths: Gender comparisons. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29(6), 607-627.

Savin-Williams, R. C. (2005). The new gay teen: Shunning labels. The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, 12(6), 16-19.

Lothwell, L. E., Libby, N., & Adelson, S. L. (2020). Mental health care for lgbt youths. Focus, 18(3), 268-276.