School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep 27;16(19):3636. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193636.
The broad research consensus suggesting substantial vulnerabilities among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities may fail to recognize the protective factors available to these populations. The sparse literature on mental health promotion highlights the importance of understanding strengths-based community approaches that promote LGBT wellbeing. Informed by the , underpinned by Honneth's , this paper outlines the findings of a qualitative Irish study on LGBT social connectedness through a diverse range of sporting, creative and social interests. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 people (including one couple) who self-identified as lesbian (5), gay (4), bisexual (1) and transgender (1) aged between 22 and 56 years. A university Research Ethics Committee granted approval. The data were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis, enhanced through a memo-writing approach to reflexivity. The theme of 'connecting' emphasized the shared nature of activities, with like-minded others through groups established by, and for, LGBT communities. Messages from the study reinforce the central role of LGBT communities in the promotion of mental health and social wellbeing, with important policy and practice implications. This requires the contextualization of the contribution of LGBT communities within understandings of social justice, identity and recognition.
广泛的研究共识表明，女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别者（LGBT）群体存在实质性的脆弱性，但这一共识可能未能认识到这些群体所拥有的保护因素。关于促进心理健康的文献很少，强调了理解基于优势的社区方法的重要性，这些方法可以促进 LGBT 的幸福感。本文以 为理论依据，以霍耐特的 为理论基础，概述了通过各种体育、创意和社交兴趣来研究爱尔兰 LGBT 社交联系的定性研究结果。通过深入访谈的方式，对 11 名自认为是女同性恋者（5 名）、男同性恋者（4 名）、双性恋者（1 名）和跨性别者（1 名）的年龄在 22 岁至 56 岁之间的人进行了 10 次访谈。大学伦理委员会批准了这项研究。通过主题分析对数据进行了转录和编码，并通过反思性备忘录的方法进行了增强。“连接”这一主题强调了活动的共同性质，通过 LGBT 社区建立的群体，与志同道合的人联系在一起。这项研究的信息强调了 LGBT 社区在促进心理健康和社会幸福感方面的核心作用，这对政策和实践具有重要意义。这需要在社会正义、身份和认同的理解背景下，理解 LGBT 社区的贡献。
