Research Study
I was competitively selected by my University to conduct an original research study of my chosen topic and receive full funding for its completion. I chose to conduct my research on Mental Health Treatment Services Exposure in LGBTQ+ College Students of Color to contribute data on intersectional minorities in the mental health field. Researching data on minority populations is crucial to creating equitable solutions for marginalized communities. This project included participating in the research process from the beginning stages of IRB approval to the end stages of presenting my findings.
Context
Individual Project
Timeline
4 Months
Role
Individual Project
Completion Date
4 Months
Literature Review
This literature review was created to provide concrete definitions and connections between groups of marginalized people that were relevant to this study. The information and conclusions gathered from previous literature helped me craft categories that participant data could fit into in order to conduct a thematic analysis.
Conducting Research
I used interview methodology to gather data for this study. I conducted 10 individual interviews with participants that fit the criteria of being a person of color, part of the LGBTQ+ community, and a current college student. In order to conduct these interviews, I created a script for recruiting participants online and a script to guide each individual interview.
The Recruitment Script provided information for an initial post and pre-made response for two recruiting platforms: GroupMe and Instagram.
The Interview Script included a welcome statement, an overview of the interview, questions, and a concluding statement. Question categories consisted of self-identification, mental health treatment exposure, and the participants’ intersectional experience regarding their identities and mental health treatment exposure.
Analysis & Findings
I used a hybrid coding approach to analyze this qualitative data from the participants. The findings of this study suggested that identity is closely connected to unique exposures and experiences with mental health treatment services in LGBTQ+ college students of color.
The Analysis Model below is a visual representation of the connection between "identity codes" (i.e. participant identities involving being a sexual, gender, and racial minority) "external codes" (i.e. factors such as location or financial obstacles) and "mental health treatment exposure outcomes codes" (i.e. the relationship between the participants identities and external factors they face).
The Research Paper below is a final culmination of this study including the abstract, literature review, methods, results, and discussion.
The Poster below is brief visual overview of the information in the research paper. This poster was created for outreach presentations to college students, faculty, and rising college students to promote the importance of research within this field and at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.