TY - JOUR

T1 - Hard-to-reach youth online

T2 - methodological advances in self-harm research

AU - McDermott, Elizabeth

AU - Roen, Katrina

AU - Piela, Anna

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - International research has demonstrated that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth have elevated rates of suicide and self-harm. What is missing from the evidence base, however, is qualitative research investigating LGBT youth perspectives. This is a sensitive subject area presenting ethical, methodological and epistemological challenges, especially in relation to over-sampling the 'visible' sections of a hidden population, retrospective reporting, and capturing complex emotions. We report on our use of qualitative online methodology to examine Internet forums where LGBT youth discuss self-harming. We found that this methodology can address some research dilemmas by generating: (a) diverse samples in terms of sexuality and gender identities; (b) a different type of data, immediate and unmediated by researchers; and (c) complex psychosocial emotional data. We argue that this online data can enhance our understanding of the links among hard-to-reach youth, suicide, self-harm, sexuality and gender, which is crucial to developing effective and appropriate suicide prevention strategies and mental health policies.

AB - International research has demonstrated that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth have elevated rates of suicide and self-harm. What is missing from the evidence base, however, is qualitative research investigating LGBT youth perspectives. This is a sensitive subject area presenting ethical, methodological and epistemological challenges, especially in relation to over-sampling the 'visible' sections of a hidden population, retrospective reporting, and capturing complex emotions. We report on our use of qualitative online methodology to examine Internet forums where LGBT youth discuss self-harming. We found that this methodology can address some research dilemmas by generating: (a) diverse samples in terms of sexuality and gender identities; (b) a different type of data, immediate and unmediated by researchers; and (c) complex psychosocial emotional data. We argue that this online data can enhance our understanding of the links among hard-to-reach youth, suicide, self-harm, sexuality and gender, which is crucial to developing effective and appropriate suicide prevention strategies and mental health policies.

KW - Suicide

KW - Self-harm

KW - Sexuality

KW - Gender

KW - Transgender

KW - Gay

KW - Lesbian

KW - SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

KW - BISEXUAL YOUTH

KW - YOUNG-PEOPLE

KW - GAY

KW - SHAME

KW - RISK

KW - HOMOPHOBIA

KW - DECEPTION

KW - INTERNET

KW - BEHAVIOR

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877759360&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s13178-012-0108-z

DO - 10.1007/s13178-012-0108-z

M3 - Journal article

VL - 10

SP - 125

EP - 134

JO - Sexuality Research and Social Policy

JF - Sexuality Research and Social Policy

SN - 1868-9884

IS - 2

ER -