Abstract
For same-sex attracted youth (SSAY), the Internet affords a unique combination of opportunity, risk, and benefit. The present study provides a narrative analysis of four diverse SSAY’s experiences (ages 18-20 years), selected from a larger sample (N = 32) to highlight variation in (a) frequency of Internet use (extensive, incidental) and (b) impact of Internet use (pivotal, missed opportunity) during identity development. Presenting narratives individually, we depict how variations in frequency and impact of Internet use interact with the content, tone, and overall form of these youths’ identity development narratives. We also explore the individual and contextual factors (e.g., family relationships, peer norms) and characteristics of the Internet (e.g., increased anonymity) that appear to relate to these SSAY’s Internet use.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 499-532 |
| Number of pages | 34 |
| Journal | Journal of Adolescent Research |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 11 2014 |
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was made possible by a Scholars Award to Brian S. Mustanski from the William T. Grant Foundation.
Keywords
- Internet
- bisexual
- gay/lesbian
- identity development
- life course
- narrative
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science