The queers are all right: A content analysis of LGBTQIA + mental health on TikTok

Author Identifier

Karen Lombardie

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8016-2197

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Culture, Health and Sexuality

Volume

26

Issue

6

First Page

778

Last Page

789

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

62055

Funders

Telethon Kids Institute Research Focus Area Collaboration Award

Comments

Pacienti, R., Pranoto, E. P., Woolard, A., Munro, E., & Lombardi, K. (2023). The queers are all right: A content analysis of LGBTQIA + mental health on TikTok. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 26(6), 778-789. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2023.2253882

Abstract

The formation of online communities instils a sense of connectedness which can ameliorate the mental health concerns that result from minority stressors for lesbian, gay, queer, intersex, asexual, and other diverse genders/sexualities (LGBTQIA+). The aim of this study was to explore how LGBTQIA + people communicate social and mental health concerns on TikTok. It was anticipated that factors affecting mental health, such as minority stressors and community connectedness, would be addressed by the videos collected. Engagement statistics, demographics and content analysis were used to describe the 50 most-viewed videos across the top five related hashtags: #genderidentity, #lgbtqawareness, #sexualidentity, #lgbtmentalhealth, and #transmentalhealth. The content analysis indicates that TikTok is used as a way for members of the LGBTQIA + community to connect with each other and enhance feelings of community connectedness, which research shows may buffer the effects of minority stressors. Engagement with social media can be especially beneficial for those who may not be able to connect in the real-world. Further interactions, such as analysis of the comment section, should be investigated to develop a fuller understanding of how LGBTQIA + TikTok users respond to these contents. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

DOI

10.1080/13691058.2023.2253882

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