Perceptions of campus climate and queer well being

Miranda Virginia Strey

Depression and anxiety disorders are 1.5 to 3.0 times higher in queer individuals. Currently, 32% of college students have thought about suicide due to depression symptoms attributed to hopelessness, loneliness, and helplessness. Higher rates of depression and anxiety within the queer community may be related to the social stigma and discrimination that queer students face on college campuses. Research findings have suggested that higher rates of depression in queer youth are attributed to the negative impact of stigma and internalized homophobia. Queer students have a different experience navigating their college experience because of how others perceive them by their sexual orientation and how they perceive themselves. This study explored if stigma and bias are present on college campuses within the queer community. In addition, I explored how identification of sexual orientation and gender identity leads to outcomes of depression and anxiety and if this is mediated by homonegativity and the campus climate. Using the Modern Homonegativity Scale (2002) as a guideline, I adapted the scale to ask participants a series of questions to measure levels of homonegativity from two different perspectives (their own perspective) and the perception of others (how the participant feels that others feel about the queer community) within the queer community. Information about depression was gathered using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and anxiety using the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). All participants were affiliated with the college campus and were voluntarily recruited through queer friendly spaces such as gay straight alliance (GSA). Positive correlations between identifying as queer and genderqueer and homonegativity due to perceived discrimination and homophobia exist. Independent t-tests confirm group differences between queer and genderqueer regarding homonegativity and levels of depression and anxiety. A multiple regression positively predicted psychological outcomes from identifying as queer or genderqueer and is mediated by homonegativity and campus climate. Overall findings suggest that queer and genderqueer identified students have higher levels of homonegativity, leading to increase psychopathology. This psychopathology is mediated by campus climate and homonegativity. This research contributes to the knowledge about campus climate and discrimination.

Perceptions of campus climate and queer well being

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