The Within-Group Differences in LGBQ+ College Students' Belongingness, Institutional Commitment, and Outness Article

BrckaLorenz, A, Duran, A, Fassett, K et al. (2019). The Within-Group Differences in LGBQ+ College Students' Belongingness, Institutional Commitment, and Outness . JOURNAL OF DIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 10.1037/dhe0000135

cited authors

  • BrckaLorenz, A; Duran, A; Fassett, K; Palmer, D

authors

abstract

  • Although scholars have examined how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ±) students perceive their collegiate environments, few quantitative studies disaggregate data to see how populations within the LGBQ+ community experience certain outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate how student subgroups within the LGBQ+ community differed in their perceptions of belongingness, institutional commitment, and outness. Using large-scale, multi-institution data from thousands of first-year and senior undergraduates, we examined how these important affective outcomes differ by sexuality groups (e.g., gay/lesbian, bisexual, or queer) and when the intersections of sexual and racial/ethnic identities are considered. Findings suggest that within-group differences exist in LGBQ± student populations that are not necessarily visible when understanding these communities in monolithic ways. We then offer implications for research and student affairs practitioners.

publication date

  • January 1, 2019

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)