Young and bi+ - identity, health and belonging

Project description

Young LGBTQ+ people experience poorer physical, mental, and sexual health than their peers, and within the LGBTQ+ umbrella, bisexual individuals report the poorest health outcomes, particularly young bisexual women. In research, this is commonly explained through the concept of minority stress, whereby bisexual individuals, due to stereotypes and prejudice, are exposed to vulnerability and a risk of discrimination both in heterosexual contexts and in homosexual contexts. This dual marginalization is assumed to generate increased stress, but the model risks obscuring the specific circumstances that shape the situation of bisexual people, especially when considering the diversity of sexual identities, including bisexual, pansexual, fluid identities, and various forms of heteroflexible or “hetero-ish” identities, here included under the term bi+.

To a large extent, research on the situation of bisexual people has been grounded in a psychological understanding of identity and health, leading to important advances in understanding the vulnerability and marginalization experienced by bi+ individuals. By situating the study within a scientific framework drawn from sociology and social work, this project will explore the significance of community, belonging, and interventions in order to further enhance our ability to counteract the vulnerability experienced by young bi+ people. The aim of the present project is to explore young bi+ people's identities, health, and experiences of belonging in order to refine our understanding of the vulnerability and marginalization that previous studies have identified within this group.

The study also seeks to investigate the potential of selected societal interventions to support the group and improve their well-being and sense of belonging. The research questions to be addressed are as follows:

• How can we understand the life stories of young bi+ people, with a focus on identity, health, and belonging?
• What do discussions about fluid identities look like in online forums frequented by young bi+ people, and how do young bi+ people experience their online environments with regard to identity, health, and belonging, including opportunities for support through online platforms?
• How do young bi+ people who receive counseling through youth health services or other outpatient support services experience their health, mental health challenges, identity, and sense of belonging?
• How do young bi+ people experience participation in LGBTQ+ settings, such as youth groups, and how does such participation affect their identity, health, and experiences of belonging?