The Adjustment to U.S. Rural College Campuses for Bisexual Students in Comparison to Gay and Lesbian Students: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Previous research suggests that sexual minority (lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB]) university students face unique challenges during the adjustment to college that their heterosexual peers do not. Furthermore, sexual minority students, and particularly those identifying as bisexual, at rural campuses in the United States may experience additional struggles because of their environment. The authors undertook this study in an attempt to understand the challenges facing LGB students as they transition to college life on rural campuses. A small, exploratory sample of 56 sexual minority participants attending rural colleges in the United States provided data on measures of college adjustment. Using content analysis of qualitative data and correlational analysis of quantitative data, the following themes emerged: challenges making new friends, difficulty with roommates, and when or whether to disclose sexual orientation. Comparisons between sexual minorities (bisexual to homosexual) were also conducted to explore the unique experiences of bisexual individuals.