“Previous resilience has taught me that I can survive anything:” LGBTQ resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately negatively affected the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, a group who faces identity-based marginalization in society. LGBTQ resilience narratives are important in buffering against the negative impact of minority stress, but little is known about how LGBTQ people have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research addresses this gap in the literature. Participants included 129 LGBTQ individuals who shared how they have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed three COVID-19-specific resilience themes, including: (1) Previous preparation fostered resilience, (2) Radical acceptance as resilience, and (3) Resilience through providing support and building community. Discussion explores how psychologists can work with LGBTQ people to identify and cultivate resilience narratives focused on self-love, self-acceptance, radical acceptance, and community resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Significance Statement-Resilience narratives are important for all people but are particularly important for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) people who face identity-based harassment, rejection, and societal stigmatization. LGBTQ participants shared their resilience narratives and identified how previous preparation fostered resilience during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, radical acceptance was a source of resilience, and resilience was seen through providing support and building community with other LGBTQ individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)