Youth (Jan 2023)

Conceptualising Wellbeing for Australian Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People

  • Shakara Liddelow-Hunt,
  • Ashleigh Lin,
  • James Hector Laurent Hill,
  • Kate Daglas,
  • Braden Hill,
  • Yael Perry,
  • Mirella Wilson,
  • Bep Uink

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/youth3010005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 70 – 92

Abstract

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It is likely that young people who are both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQA+ would be at increased risk for poor mental health outcomes due to the layered impacts of discrimination they experience; however, there is very little empirical evidence focused on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people. The current study represents a qualitative exploration of wellbeing among Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people. This study consisted of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people aged 14–25 years old in the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia. Thematic analysis identified seven major themes that were significant to participants’ wellbeing: identity, family, community, visibility, services, stigma and navigating.

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