Q Chat Space: Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet-Based Support Program for LGBTQ Youth

Abstract

There are few psychosocial support programs specifically designed to meet the unique developmental and health needs of LGBTQ youth. Even when available, many youth face significant barriers to accessing LGBTQ-specific services for fear of being “outed” to parents, peers, and community members. The current study assessed the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of a synchronous, adult-facilitated, chat-based Internet community support program for LGBTQ youth aged 13–19. Chat transcripts were analyzed to examine how LGBTQ youth used the chat-based platform to connect with peers and trusted adults. A separate user satisfaction survey was collected to assess the personal (e.g., sexual orientation, gender identity, age) and contextual (e.g., geography, family environment) characteristics of youth engaging in the platform, their preferred topics of discussion, and their satisfaction with the program focus and facilitators. Qualitative data analysis demonstrated the degree to which LGBTQ youth were comfortable disclosing difficult and challenging situations with family, friends, and in their community and in seeking support from peers and facilitators online. Youth also used the platform to explore facets of sexual and gender identity/expression and self-acceptance. Overall, users were very satisfied with the platform, and participants accurately reflect the program’s desired populations for engagement (e.g., LGBTQ youth of color, LGBTQ youth in the South). Together, findings support the feasibility and acceptability of synchronous, adult-facilitated, chat-based Internet programs to connect and support LGBTQ youth, which encourage future research and innovation in service delivery.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11121-021-01291-y.

Studies consistently document health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ) youth in the United States (U.S.). These disparities are primarily attributed to stigma and discrimination (Fish et al., 2020a). LGBTQ youth experience poorer mental, behavioral, and sexual health than their heterosexual and cisgender peers (Russell & Fish, 2016; Saewyc, 2014). Despite a growing acceptance of LGBTQ youth and policy changes aimed at protecting them, studies suggest that disparities in mental health, substance use, and victimization have remained relatively stable over the past 15 years (Fish et al., 2019a, b; Poteat et al., 2020; Raifman et al., 2020). This persistence emphasizes the need for broader prevention and intervention efforts to address LGBTQ youth’s unique developmental and health needs.

Unfortunately, evidence-based programs supporting LGBTQ youths’ health, wellbeing, and positive development are limited and biased towards individual therapeutic and pharmacological treatment (Coulter et al., 2019; Fish, 2020). LGBTQ youth also experience barriers to community-based care (e.g., safety concerns, lack of competent providers). In contrast, LGBTQ youth are active users of Internet-enabled devices (e.g., smartphones). They are informally accessing resources and building community in Internet-based contexts—particularly if they are unable to access such opportunities in their day-to-day lives (GLSEN, 2013). Thus, Internet-based prevention and intervention programs may be particularly feasible for LGBTQ youth (Craig et al., 2015b; McInroy, 2020; Paceley et al., 2020). The emergence of digital interventions indicates the potential for evidence-based programming for LGBTQ youth delivered via Internet-enabled technologies (McInroy et al., 2019a). Given the prospective reach of Internet-based programming, the current study documents the development and delivery of a synchronous, adult-facilitated, chat-based community support program for LGBTQ youth called Q Chat Space. Specifically, we assess the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of Q Chat Space by examining youth engagement and experience with the program.

Minority Stress and Youth Resilience

LGBTQ health inequities are frequently conceptualized using the minority stress model (Goldbach & Gibbs, 2017; Hendricks & Testa, 2012; Meyer, 2003). Minority stress illustrates how stigma and discrimination impact the day-to-day experiences of sexual and gender minorities; how interpersonal discrimination, internalized anti-LGBTQ stigma, and structural forces disenfranchise LGBTQ people and create stress that compromises their mental health, wellbeing, and coping strategies (Goldbach & Gibbs, 2017; Meyer, 2003). Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, LGBTQ youth experience higher rates of bullying and peer harassment (Toomey & Russell, 2016), violence and victimization (Johns et al., 2018, 2019; Poteat et al., 2020), and family rejection (Ryan et al., 2009). These experiences contribute to LGBTQ youths’ poorer mental health (Fish et al., 2020a; Russell & Fish, 2016), higher rates of substance misuse (Goldbach et al., 2014), and sexual and reproductive health concerns (Saewyc, 2014).

Research on the experiences of LGBTQ youth has primarily focused on disparities and deficits in their health and social capital (Fish, 2020; Fish et al., 2020a). However, resilience is a core feature of the minority stress model (Meyer, 2015). Conceptualized as avoiding or productively adapting to risk exposure (Ungar, 2008), limited scholarship has applied resilience models to LGBTQ youth populations or explored mechanisms that foster resilience (Craig et al., 2015a; Ungar, 2008). Attention to normative and differential developmental processes of LGBTQ youth (see Coll et al., 1996) could help to identify pathways towards positive outcomes even in the context of stigma and risk (Ungar, 2008), given that many LGBTQ youth overcome (or never develop) mental health symptomology and substance use concerns (Craig et al., 2015a).

LGBTQ Youth and Participation in Internet-Based Communities

Although LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience cyberbullying and Internet-based harassment than heterosexual and cisgender youth (Abreu & Kenny, 2017), they do not perceive Internet-based contexts as riskier than in-person environments (e.g., schools, communities; GLSEN, 2013). LGBTQ youth use the Internet to explore and experiment with their sexual and gender identities and self-expression, develop affirming interpersonal relationships and community connections, and access identity-specific resources and services in contexts of relative safety and anonymity (Craig & McInroy, 2014; Craig et al., 2015a; Paceley et al., 2020). Experiences with stigma and isolation and a lack of in-person resources motivate LGBTQ youth to seek information and support via the Internet (Steinke et al., 2017). These activities potentially mitigate risk factors in their in-person environments (e.g., isolation, rejection), foster self-esteem and self-acceptance, and compensate for their difficulties accessing information and resources (Boyd, 2014; Craig & McInroy, 2014; Craig et al., 2015a).

Internet-based service provision may be appropriate and feasible for LGBTQ youth, indicated by the development and ongoing evaluation of a small but rapidly increasing number of digital programs designed for the population (McInroy, 2020). Significant opportunities exist for the continued development of evidence-informed, Internet-based programming for LGBTQ youth delivered in formats engaging and relevant to the population while adequately addressing safety concerns (McInroy et al., 2019a). This need for Internet-based services and programming is heightened in the current COVID-19 context, wherein LGBTQ youth are further removed from school and community services and confined to sometimes non-affirming home environments (Fish et al., 2020b; Paceley et al., in press).

The Current Study

The current study assessed the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of a synchronous, Internet-based, adult-led chat platform developed for LGBTQ youth called Q Chat Space. Using multiple data sources, we aimed to understand better how youth engaged and built community, motivations for participation, and satisfaction with the program. Findings contribute to the development and improvement of Internet-based services for LGBTQ youth. The study was also loosely rooted in the RE-AIM model, which guides researchers and practitioners to consider the implementation concepts of Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance in health behavior interventions (Glasgow et al., 1999). Given that the current study focused on the pilot phase of Q Chat Space, we primarily focused on reach (e.g., willingness of youth to engage, demographic differences between users and non-users) and potentials for effectiveness (e.g., evidence of youth community building and support).

Methods

Program Development and Pilot

Q Chat Space arose from intensive formative research (November–December 2014) exploring what LGBTQ youth wanted from an intervention (Steinke et al., 2017). Youth shared hesitancy with attending in-person groups and offered suggestions for digital programs. This research was used to develop the Q Chat Space program, a “digital community center” that translates “drop-in” peer support groups—a core service of brick-and-mortar LGBTQ community centers—for the digital space (Fish et al., 2019a, b). Q Chat Space was designed with significant input from rural LGBTQ youth, who are often under-resourced (Paceley, 2016), as well as Black and Latinx LGBTQ youth, who are more likely to encounter stigma and marginalization (Toomey et al., 2017). A synchronous chat platform emerged that allows youth (age 13–19) to join adult-facilitated, Internet-based support groups anonymously. Facilitators are staff from LGBTQ community centers around the United States (U.S.) and trained by CenterLink, the organization managing Q Chat Space. Youth continue to offer input through a youth advisory panel made up of predominantly Black, Latinx, and rural youth (now in its third cohort).

Initial feasibility testing for Q Chat Space was conducted with trained facilitators from an LGBTQ community center in the Northeastern U.S. from February–June 2018 (see Fig. 1 for the detailed timeline). Eighteen 60-min support groups were hosted with 16 youth. This initial test (1) assessed the utility of the digital platform and (2) refined the chat protocol (e.g., length of chats, times for chats). The pilot program started in July 2018 that included facilitators from a second LGBTQ center in the Southeastern U.S. and engaged youth who were not necessarily attending in-person services. Youth were made aware of the program through the pilot organizations’ typical communication channels (e.g., social media, websites, emails, and outreach to youth serving professionals in their area). In January 2019, a third LGBTQ center was added to provide chat sessions specifically addressing sexual health. The third center also promoted Q Chat Space throughout their service area in the Southeast using similar communication strategies. The pilot enabled further revision of the chat protocol, improvements to the facilitator training, and fidelity monitoring. The pilot ended in May 2019. When the program launched nationally, CenterLink asked LGBTQ community centers across the U.S. as well as other youth-serving organizations to share the program information through social media, emails, and outreach. CenterLink also conducted a paid marketing campaign on Instagram.

Fig. 1.

Q Chat Space program and study timeline. ¹Steinke et al. (2017). ²Transcript data are from the program pilot

Two data sources were used for the current study: (1) chat transcripts from the program pilot (July 2018–May 2019) and (2) a user survey conducted February–March 2020 to understand the characteristics of youth engaged with the platform, their motivations for joining, and their satisfaction with the program. As Q Chat Space was not originally designed for assessment and evaluation, we cannot assess the degree to which pilot users are present in the survey data, and thus the degree to which the two samples overlap (see the “Limitations and Areas of Future Research” section for further discussion). The University of Maryland Institutional Review Board approved the research protocol for both projects.

Study 1: Q Chat Space Program Pilot Transcripts

Sample

We include all transcripts from the program’s pilot phase (see Fig. 1). Transcripts were downloaded from the Q Chat Space platform and anonymized following pilot completion. All youth who use Q Chat Space do so anonymously and create a username that is never linked to personal identifying information. Still, to ensure anonymity during the transcript review process, all usernames were changed to pseudonyms and any potentially identifying information shared by youth in the chats was redacted to further eliminate deductive disclosure. The pilot included 74 support groups/transcripts, 12 of which were sex education discussions; 86 youth joined chats a total of 245 times.

Q Chat Space Pilot Transcripts

Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis, a descriptive qualitative method providing flexibility and rigor (Braun & Clark, 2006). These are not “traditional” interview transcripts but text-based chat conversations. As such, they include short statements, brief phrases, and emojis. Transcripts were cleaned, de-identified, and pseudonym coded. Next, four analysts read the transcripts to establish an understanding of content and structure. They then engaged in initial coding using Dedoose version 7.0.23 (Dedoose, 2016), which resulted in a list of approximately 100 codes. All authors discussed codes and related quotes, combined ones that were similar, and identified ten broad thematic categories of codes on Q Chat Space content. The team met weekly during the coding process and discussed any discrepancies and disagreements in coding until consensus was reached. Transcripts were re-read to identify platform processes (e.g., chat structure, flow, engagement) in addition to content to understand how the chat environment might offer unique user experiences. In this phase, four analysts wrote brief process memos about each chat. The memos included prompts for facilitator roles, youth engagement, and affective/emotive context. Process memos were then analyzed and discussed at a team meeting to identify two relevant process themes.

Study 2: Q Chat Space User Survey

Sample

The survey design elicited information from three distinct user groups: (1) youth who created a program account but never attended a chat, (2) youth who attended one chat session, and (3) youth who attended multiple chat sessions. All youth who had engaged with the Q Chat Space platform (N = 2622) were sent a recruitment email for survey participation in exchange for entry into a raffle for one of sixty $25 gift cards. Of those invited, 291 youth participated. A waiver of parental consent was granted to ensure youth safety.

Measures

User type was assessed by asking, “How many times have you attended a Q Chat Space chat?” Those who registered but never attended were coded as “non-users,” and those who attended once or more than once were coded as “users.” Participants were asked to rank their motivation to sign up for Q Chat Space. Youth interest in chat topics was assessed differently across user groups. Non-users were asked what topics they would like for Q Chat Space to address; users were asked what topics they liked best. For both rank-order questions, responses were coded as top three = 1 and non-top three = 0.

Sociodemographic characteristics were collected at the beginning of the survey. Participants were asked to select the response that best represented their sexual and romantic orientation/identity (recoded: bisexual, monosexual, queer/pansexual, something else), transgender identity (recoded: no, yes, not sure), and race and ethnicity (Asian/Native/Other, Black, Hispanic, White, and multiracial recoded based on U.S. Census Bureau designation; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). Participants indicated their age in years. Identity disclosure to parents was measured with two yes/no questions, one about sexual orientation and one about gender identity; these items were used to create a single variable of parental disclosure as yes to either question = 1 or no to both questions = 0. Self-reported zip codes were used to code region (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West; U.S. Census Bureau, 2019) and urbanicity, which was calculated using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural–Urban Commuting Area Codes and corresponding metropolitan and nonmetropolitan designations (United States Department of Agriculture, 2020).

Family context and wellbeing measures included family acceptance and rejection; each was assessed with four items adapted from the Family Acceptance Project (Gamarel et al., 2020). Response options ranged from never = 0 to often = 3 (summed range 0–12; acceptance α = 0.86, rejection α = 0.88). Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6 (Ferro, 2019), which asked youth to report how often they felt a specific way (e.g., “nervous”) in the previous 30 days. Responses ranged from none of the time = 0 to all of the time = 4 (summed range 0–24; α = 0.88).

User satisfaction was assessed with two questions. One asked about chat topic satisfaction, and another asked about satisfaction with facilitators. Responses ranged from completely dissatisfied = 1, to completely satisfied = 5.

Analytic Procedures

Following preliminary descriptive analysis, chi-square tests of independence and independent sample t-tests were conducted to assess distinct features (if any) between users and non-users. Analyses were conducted using pairwise deletion. Thus, sample size varies across outcomes.

Results

Study 1: Program Pilot Transcripts: What Are Youth Talking About?

Coding resulted in twelve broad themes; ten related directly to chat content. Although some content categories overlap with facilitator-selected topics (see Supplemental Table 1 for a full list of chat topics), youth frequently identified their own topics or sub-topics of interest during sessions. Table 1 displays these categories and sample chat excerpts. Youth discussed the process of (1) coming out or disclosing their sexual and gender identities to others (e.g., family, peers) and experiences of being “outed” or “closeted.” Youth’s conversations related to (2) identity commonly addressed topics such as the use of labels and defining one’s sexuality and gender, as well as the process of questioning and exploring identity. When content related to (3) intersectionality arose in chats, it was common for youth to explore the intersections between ethno-racial and LGBTQ identities and seek greater understanding of the concept of intersectionality generally. Youth’s (4) family dynamics were a significant topic, as they thoughtfully explored supportive and unsupportive family relationships and experiences. Discussions of (5) LGBTQ community dynamics reflected similar significance and depth and included community strengths and challenges, such as chosen families and community-based conflict.

Table 1.

Q Chat Space pilot transcript thematic codes, defining features, and example excerpts

1. Coming out
1.	Kelsey_she_they (facilitator): To begin, what does coming out mean to you all?
	Sunami_she (youth): The first time I came out to someone was when I told my friend who's also part of the LGBTQ community by saying “BESTIE! I don’t think I'm straight.” She was so supportive and amazing!
	1uri_she (youth): awww that’s so sweet
	1uri_she (youth): I had to come out four times to my parents, and they didn’t believe me until I was outed by my counselor
2.	Kelsey_she_they (facilitator): What do y’all think is involved in the coming out process? Do you think coming outis even a process? …
	Ketchmeter_they (youth): You never stop thinking about it, no matter where you are/where you go you’re always thinking about potentially coming out or outting yourself to new people you meet or even strangers depending on the circumstances. It’s often super stressful
2. Identity
1.	Camera.Gem_she_they (Youth): gender is a way you can definitely yourself into or not into a box that people can understand
2.	Carolina_j_she (Youth): I feel like if you're struggling with your identity and then you find a label or title that fits, it can make you feel super valid. I knew that i would date anyone but the labels still didn’t fit. So, when I found out was Asexuality was, I genuinely cried because it was so freaking validating
3. Intersectionality
1.	David_he (Youth): I just thought it was interesting because usually when we talk about intersectionality, we talk about how multiple minority identities can negatively impact someone. But intersectionality is also the fact that privilege (white privilege, male privilege, being able bodied, passing, etc.) can create an advantage that can positively impact their lives, even as a minority
2.	David_he (Youth): Because even when there are gay people in the media, they are usually not people of color…or at least that’s been my experience. Trans men in the media seem to be 99% white trans men. Some people don’t realize how the fact that they are privileged in some ways but not in others can still intersect in a way that puts them at a higher advantage than others
4. Family dynamics
1.	Kelsey_she_they (Facilitator): Are your parents affirming now that they have had time to process the information?…
	Quueraceonit_she (Youth): My mom definitely is, my sister is indifferent and my dad recently started talking to me again, so I think they’re all okay with it sorry about the rant haha
2.	Kelsey_she_they (Facilitator): Great points. So there can definitely be people who don’t accept you, but you may still have a relationship with them. Do you all think you can have a healthy relationship with someone who does not accept you?
	School.theteacher _he (Youth): I hope it’s possible. I’m thinking more of my family who I love and care about and want to continue to stay in my life. But it’s hard being together when they don’t accept me
5. LGBTQ community dynamics
1.	Sunami_she (Youth): Lol! we need to be here for each other cause sadly a lot of this world wont and try to break us down. That’s why I’m so thankful for everyone part of the LGBTQ community
2.	David_he (Youth): Nice! And sometimes, I feel like while we are a community (the LGBTQ community), there’s still some division. I was listen to a podcaster who’s a trans woman say that she didn’t really know people who were trans masculine or really from any other "branches" of the LGBT community. So seeing people from different areas of the community come together added a different level of beauty for me
6. Support
1.	Rithy_he (Facilitator): Is your school pretty inclusive of the LGBTQ community?
	carolina_j_she (Youth): I actually started school online this year but my past school was not at all…then again it was before i moved out to charlotte but they definitely weren’t
2.	Kelsey_she_they (Facilitator): Do you have anyone at your school that would be willing to advocate for you? Either another teacher or a counselor?
	Cameron_she(Youth): Eh not really, none of the teachers really know I’m gay, I would be fine with them knowing, it’s just that the same situation could happen and I don’t want them to not like me because of it Because they are Christian and I don’t know how they feel about gay people
7. Direct/proximal stressors
1.	Sunami_she (Youth): Well actually, me and one of my friends are so close and we had a small crush on each other for a small time, and we would hands sometimes and hug a lot. People started calling us a lesbians and started picking on us about it. Calling us “lesbos” and stuff like that
2.	David_he4 (Youth): I tried to get my passport updated with my name/gender but they gave me a hard time about it, which was annoying
8. Indirect/structural stressors
1.	Lovinn4_he (Youth): I remember a couple of years ago, and marriage equality was going through the courts. I was so nervous about it that I was reading through the Court transcripts. The celebration after it passed was so cool to watch
	GeminiLady_she (Youth): it’s meant to have a negative connotation thats why it worked as a slur like gay just meant happy and that’s not a slur
2.	Pinto_they (Youth): Well I think it’s really cool how many women are in the US Congress since the election which is a super big step. And the media in general there’s still less representation of queer people and p.o.c then there should be but for some parts there’s stuff that’s changing for the better and better representation
	Carolina_j_she (Youth): voices of trans, disabled, and immigrants i feel like are a big part of people that aren’t heard right now
Media
1.	Matthew_he (Youth): I think Netflix has gotten a lot better with it and has done some really great shows with accurate LGBT rep!
	Loren4_she (Youth): I think they start out strong in some shows and fall off
	DylanN_he (Youth): There is def a ways to go but a lot of progress has been made and that is great
	EmilyR_she (Facilitator): I think the media is improving since I was looking for LGBT folks in the media (circa 1998)
	Loren4_she (Youth):Yes
	Elias_they (Facilitator): For sure! @Matthew_he and @DylanN_he it definitely seems like there has been a lot of progress
	Matthew_he (Youth): Then again, there is Titus in Jimmy Schmidt Love him but he’s…. a character
	Elias_they (Facilitator): Do y’all watch pose?
	Loren4_she (Youth): I’m always disappointed by OITNB [Orange is the New Black] since I used to love it
	DylanN_he (Youth): I loved Pose!!
	EmilyR_she (Facilitator): @DylanN_he I did too—why did you love it
	Elias_they (Facilitator): For sure there are definitely negative examples of representation as well, or examples where it seems like they are trying but miss the mark
	DylanN_he (Youth): Literally everything about Pose is incredible
2.	Elias_they (Facilitator): Exactly! It can be so validating to see lgbtq portrayed in a positive light in media
	EmilyR_she (Facilitator): I think it helps too! What I love is when queer characters come out as queer in real life haha!
	Lance_he_they (Youth): Yeah you feel so happy for them Like you just wanna hug them
Health/mental health
1.	OmniqueerAR_they (Youth): Thanks, I had a panic attack at school today and those usually exhaust me so for the rest of the day I felt mentally and physically drained
	Kelsey_she_they (Facilitator): People commenting negatively on posts can definitely turn into discrimination in real life! What do you all think that recurring discrimination does to a person?
	Lovinn4_he (Youth): It weakens their emotional and mental well being, for sure. It can lead to isolation, and in some cases, can make someone feel like they’re less than human
	Derrickdaskpy_he (Youth): It can lower self esteem and make someone depressed eventually…
2.	Lovinn4_he (Youth): The whole community can end up feeling “less than.” It can lead to tensions between the community and the rest of the world, and can lead to repression of what makes that community unique or important out of shame

Another common topic was youth’s perceptions of (6) support, as they discussed supportive and unsupportive environments, as well as supportive and unsupportive adults. Youth also considered (7) direct or proximal stressors in their lives, describing encountering discrimination, dealing with identity-related stress, and other day-to-day challenges. Additionally, (8) indirect and structural stressors were commonly discussed, such as the political climate towards LGBTQ populations and the socio-cultural environment regarding LGBTQ people. Many chats focused on (9) media, as a formal topic of discussion or in a more informal way. Media consisted of both offline (e.g., television) and online (e.g., YouTube) sources. Discussions about media depictions of LGBTQ people and communities were prevalent. Finally, youth were candid about their (10) physical, mental, and sexual health experiences.

In addition to content themes, the process memos revealed two additional themes: (1) differences in chat structure and process and (2) the potential benefits of chat participation. The chats process, particularly the emotive quality, was directly related to the youth participants—which would also be expected in offline support groups. Chats could be filled with talkative, energetic, and excited youth, even when the emotive context was sad, scared, or confused. Other chats consisted of more withdrawn youth, who seemed nervous or less engaged. Some chats were very facilitator-driven in structure, indicated by the facilitators guiding the conversations. Others were youth-led, with youth directing the flow of the conversation. Some chats were educational (e.g., providing information on safer sex practices), and youth tended to ask questions and learn from the facilitators. In contrast, other chats were emotionally driven, such as those where youth discussed and shared experiences about rejecting or unsupportive families.

Process memos also revealed potential benefits of the Q Chat Space program, which provided youth with a space to share their thoughts and experiences and be validated and affirmed in their LGBTQ identities. Youth often engaged in strategies to build rapport, foster community, and support each other. They sought advice, provided mutual validation and reinforcement, asked follow-up questions, and offered resource suggestions. Sometimes, youth acted as peer mentors for one another—often witnessed when chats included both youth who were not out or newly out and youth who had been out and involved in the LGBTQ community for some time. Lastly, some chats provided educational information or resources from which youth seemed to benefit, although youth frequently reported greater benefits from the sense of community.

Study 2: Q Chat Space User Survey: Who’s Engaging and Why?

Table 2 displays sample characteristics and examined sociodemographic differences between users and non-users. Users and non-users did not differ in their sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, region, urbanicity, being out to parents, age, family rejection, family acceptance, or psychological distress. Users, however, were more likely than non-users to identify as gender diverse (X² (2), 240) = 11.38, p < 0.01). Overall, users were very satisfied with chat topics (M = 4.19, 95% CI [4.00, 4.38]) and facilitators (M = 4.36, 95% CI [4.18, 4.54]). Chat topic and facilitator satisfaction did not vary by sociodemographic or contextual characteristics.

Table 2.

Sample demographics

		Total	Non-users	Users
		%	%	%	χ2	p
Sexual orientation (n = 236)
Something else		19.07%	20.93%	18.00%	8.03	0.09
Bisexual		20.34%	26.74%	16.67%
Monosexual		25.85%	26.74%	25.33%
Queer/pansexual		34.75%	25.58%	40.00%
Gender diverse (n = 240)
No		30.42%	40.70%	24.68%	11.38	< 0.01
Yes		51.67%	37.21%	59.74%
Not sure		17.92%	22.09%	15.58%
Racea (n = 234)
White		53.85%	45.78%	58.28%	3.57	0.47
Black		6.84%	7.23%	6.62%
Hispanic		13.68%	15.66%	12.58%
Asian/Native Am./Other		9.83%	12.05%	8.61%
Multiracial		15.81%	19.28%	13.91%
Region (n = 210)
Northeast		15.71%	11.69%	18.05%	1.71	0.64
Midwest		17.62%	16.88%	18.05%
West		20.48%	22.08%	19.55%
South		46.19%	49.35%	44.36%
Urbanicity (n = 212)
Metropolitan		89.62%	89.74%	89.55%	0.00	0.97
Non-metropolitan		10.38%	10.26%	10.45%
Out to parent (n = 241)
No		29.05%	34.88%	25.81%	2.21	0.14
Yes		70.95%	65.12%	74.19%
		Mean (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)	t	p
Age (n = 236)		16.22 (15.98, 16.46)	15.98 (15.58, 16.37)	16.36 (16.05, 16.67)	−1.49	0.14
Family rejection (n = 174)		4.26 (3.74, 4.78)	4.24 (3.44, 5.04)	4.27 (3.58, 4.96)	−0.06	0.95
Family acceptance (n = 162)		3.78 (3.20, 4.35)	3.12 (2.25, 4.00)	4.14 (3.39, 4.89)	−1.70	0.09
Psychological distress (n = 213)		12.61 (11.84, 13.39)	12.23 (10.99, 13.46)	12.86 (11.85, 13.87)	−0.79	0.43
Topic satisfaction (n = 128)				4.19 (4.00, 4.38)
Facilitator satisfaction (n = 128)				4.36 (4.18, 4.54)

^aAsian/Native Am./Other (i.e., American Indian or Native American, Other Indigenous, Asian or Asian American, and my race is not represented in this list); Black (i.e.,Black or African American, Black or African, African-Caribbean, African Other), Hispanic, White (i.e., Middle Eastern/North African, White), multiracial (i.e., multiracial, multiethnic, mixed, or some other phrase that recognizes two or more racial identities)

The most commonly cited motivations for joining Q Chat Space (see Table 3) were wanting to talk with other LGBTQ young people (71.06%), having a safe space to talk about LGBTQ identity (55.74%), wanting to connect with other youth from the same background (43.83%), and wanting to feel like part of the LGBTQ community (43.40%). Participants most commonly included emotional and mental health (43.72%), groups for trans/non-binary youth (33.37%), coming out (31.60%), and sex education (27.71%) in their most preferred chat topics.

Table 3.

Youth top 3 motivations to sign up for Q Chat Space and preferred chat topics

Motivation to sign up for Q Chat Space (n = 235)	%
To talk with other LGBTQ + young people	71.06
Safe space to talk about LGBTQ + identity	55.74
Wanted to connect with other youth from the same background	43.83
To feel like part of the LGBTQ + community	43.4
Wanted to make friends	27.23
To access resources and information	21.28
I was feeling upset or sad	20.43
To talk with LGBTQ + professional service providers	10.64
I was feeling excited or happy	2.98
Preferred chat topics (n = 231)
Emotional and mental health	43.72
Groups for trans/non-binary youth	33.77
Coming out	31.6
Sex education	27.71
Open discussion	23.81
Politics	23.38
Activism and advocacy	22.08
Media	14.72
Identity	14.29
Groups for questioning youth	14.29
Family	13.42
Groups for youth of color	10.82
History	10.82
Religion and spirituality	6.93
School	6.06

Discussion

Despite an increase in Internet-based resources for LGBTQ youth, the developing evidence-base lacks synchronous, structured, or adult-facilitated programs (Lucassen et al., 2015; McInroy et al., 2019a). Guided by the constructs of reach and effectiveness from the RE-AIM model (Glasgow et al., 1999), we assessed the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of Q Chat Space—a synchronous, adult-facilitated, Internet-based program designed to address risk factors (e.g., isolation, rejection, stress) associated with the well-established mental and behavioral health needs of LGBTQ youth. Findings suggest that Q Chat Space is an acceptable and feasible program given its ability to reach and engage youth from across the U.S., and its effectiveness in providing a welcoming environment in which LGBTQ youth are motivated to engage and discuss topics relevant to their lives and health.

Since its inception in 2018, Q Chat Space has grown from one session per week to a robust Internet-based program offering twelve 90-min chat sessions weekly. Further evidence of reach is demonstrated in the continued scale-up of Q Chat Space: As of May 31, 2021, Q Chat Space has hosted 1035 groups with 2377 unique users and an average of 15.5 youth attending each chat. The user survey findings showed that among youth who attended at least one chat, the average number of attended chats was 5.42. Youth-reported high levels of satisfaction with the chat topics and facilitators (average > 4 on a scale of 1–5), which also support acceptability.

Nearly half (44%) of those who signed up for the program were youth of color, and a similar proportion (46%) were from the Southern U.S., suggesting that the program is engaging the intended population. Roughly 11% of youth who completed the user survey were from rural communities, which signals that Q Chat Space is accessible to LGBTQ youth in areas with historically limited services. Youth who attended at least one chat were also more likely to be transgender or gender diverse, which is consistent with youth engagement with in-person community programs (Fish et al., 2019a, b) and other Internet-mediated spaces (McInroy et al., 2019b).

Claims of acceptability, feasibility, and reach were further strengthened by minimal sociodemographic and contextual differences between users and non-users. This is particularly important with regard to characteristics that may inhibit access to in-person or voice-based services. For example, users and non-users did not differ on parental disclosure, family rejection, family acceptance, or psychological distress. Often, youth who are not out to their parents may hesitate to engage with in-person and Internet-based LGBTQ resources for fear that their parents will find out—this restricts youths’ access to supports and services (Paceley et al., 2020). The platform’s chat-based nature likely helps youth avoid concerns about family members accidentally overhearing their conversations in the same way they might if they were talking to friends (Fish et al., 2020b).

We also examined pilot program transcripts to explore the content and process of youth conversations. We identified ten content themes that suggest preliminary effectiveness in engaging youth in community-building and support: coming out, identity, intersectionality, family dynamics, LGBTQ community dynamics, support, direct or proximal stressors, indirect and structural stressors, media, and physical, mental, and sexual health. Findings highlight two important points. First, the chat conversations’ content is directly related to contexts and processes that impact youth mental and behavioral health, as outlined in the minority stress model and related empirical work (Goldbach & Gibbs, 2017; Meyer, 2003). For example, family rejection (Ryan et al., 2009), peer harassment (Russell & Fish, 2016), and coming out stress (Baams et al., 2015) are implicated in LGBTQ youth mental health and substance use (Goldbach et al., 2014; Russell & Fish, 2016). Youth felt comfortable to discuss personal and stressful experiences in a context with peers and facilitators who could normalize these experiences, offer support, and recommend resources and information—reactions that could mitigate the negative impacts of these stressors (Wagaman et al., 2020). Results also suggest that youth may feel safer and more comfortable sharing personal or uncomfortable experiences and questions in a text-based (rather than face-to-face) context; youth mentioned how they were able to say what was on their mind, appreciating both the anonymity of the space and the presence of LGBTQ peers and supportive adults.

Second, youth from the user survey also noted that their three strongest motivations for signing up for Q Chat Space were to talk to other LGBTQ young people, find a safe space to talk about their LGBTQ identity, and connect with youth from the same background. These motivations emphasize the need to cultivate LGBTQ community connections. The themes identified in the transcript analysis align closely with these desires. Although LGBTQ community affiliation and support have been studied among adults (Frost et al., 2016), these experiences’ effects are less-often examined among youth. Some qualitative work has found that LGBTQ youth, particularly youth in rural areas, have a strong desire to connect with LGBTQ peers in safe and supportive environments but often face physical, structural, and emotional barriers in doing so (Paceley, 2016). Other work has shown that LGBTQ youth who engage with in-person LGBTQ community centers report better self-esteem and mental health, and lower substance use, than those who do not engage with these programs (Fish et al., 2019a, b). The ability to cultivate LGBTQ community in an Internet-based environment, particularly for those who cannot seek it elsewhere, is critical for LGBTQ youth health and wellbeing.

Limitations and Areas of Future Research

Limitations qualify our findings. First, this work is exploratory. Q Chat Space was not originally designed for assessment and evaluations. We are therefore not aware of how many of the pilot users are represented in our user survey, nor were we able to contact only those youth who participated in the pilot. Future studies with a priori benchmarks and rigorous data collection will provide better assessments of feasibility and acceptability. For this same reason, assessing the impact of the program on intermediate and long-term outcomes related to mental health among LGBTQ youth was not possible. It would be important to design studies able to capture the short- and long-term changes in mental and behavioral health as a result of the program. Second, the user survey was valuable for understanding who was engaging with the platform, their satisfaction with the program, and their motivations for joining. However, the user survey only reflects a subsample of youth who have registered and participated in the program. A comprehensive demographic survey during registration and tracking use over time would help evaluate the degree to which the program engaged the intended population and the diversity therein. Lastly, this evaluation’s ad hoc nature also precludes our ability to assess youth who opted not to enroll in the program. Tracking recruitment and enrollment efforts will allow for better assessments of feasibility and acceptability.

Implications

Our findings highlight the acceptability and feasibility of a synchronous, facilitator-led chat-based support program for LGBTQ youth. Importantly, the use of an Internet-based, textual program like Q Chat Space engages youth who may not have disclosed their LGBTQ status or who are fearful of being “outed” through the use of in-person or voice-based services. Obtaining community and resources via the Internet provides relative anonymity while simultaneously increasing accessibility and individual specificity. Thus, such programs provide a relatively low-cost strategy to support youth, particularly those who experience barriers to procuring LGBTQ-specific resources and support in their schools and communities (Fish et al., 2020b; McInroy et al., 2019a, b). Q Chat Space is also unique as an Internet-based preventive intervention program for LGBTQ youth as many Internet-based programs this population are crisis-focused interventions (e.g., TrevorLifeline, TrevorChat, Trans Lifeline; McInroy et al., 2019a).

Q Chat Space’s scale-up in mid-2019 was particularly timely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the first month of shutdowns, average attendance increased from 5 youth per chat to 13; the average number of new youth joining chats also doubled. Recent research from the Q Chat Space team suggests that this increase in users was accelerated by the isolation and mental health difficulties LGBTQ youth are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. The pandemic has separated them from their friends and offline sources of support, as well as, in some cases, has kept them at home with unsupportive families (Fish et al., 2020b). CenterLink was called upon to provide expert support as LGBTQ centers around the country rapidly transitioned their drop-in services to the Internet. Anecdotally, COVID-19 is likely to change the landscape of community-based LGBTQ service delivery permanently. Although in-person services will undoubtedly return, many youth-serving organizations supported by CenterLink have discussed maintaining Internet-based programming developed during the pandemic (personal communication).

Conclusion

There remains urgent need for LGBTQ youth programs that support positive youth development and wellbeing, particularly those that can reach youth who are unable to engage with in-person resources due to isolation or community climate. We explored the feasibility and acceptability of an Internet-based, adult-facilitated chat platform for LGBTQ youth to interact, build community, and access resources. Results suggest that this preventive intervention format offers promising strategies to address the risk factors implicated in LGBTQ youth health and wellbeing. Findings show that youth are comfortable engaging in discussions that allow them to process the unique stressors of being LGBTQ and foster resilience through support and community engagement. Future research is needed to understand better these programs’ impact on LGBTQ youth health and the strategies to deliver them best.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Funding

This work was supported, in part, by the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center cooperative agreement U48DP006382 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Any interpretations and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and may not reflect those of the CDC. Fish also acknowledges support from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Child Health and Human Development grant P2CHD041041, Maryland Population Research Center. Williams acknowledges support from the Southern Regional Education Board, the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholars Program, and from the University of Maryland School of Public Health Gold Award.

Declarations

Ethics Approval

Both studies referenced in this report were approved by the University of Maryland Institutional Review board in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from individual participants included in the Q Chat Satisfaction survey data collection. Chat transcripts were not originally conducted for the purposes of research and therefore did not obtain informed consent from participants; transcripts were designated as de-identified secondary data sources.

Disclaimer

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the CDC.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.