TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Media as Social Capital of LGB Individuals in Hong Kong
T2 - Its Relations with Group Membership, Stigma, and Mental Well-Being
AU - Chong, Eddie S. K.
AU - Zhang, Yin
AU - Mak, Winnie W. S.
AU - Pang, Ingrid H. Y.
N1 - Funding information:
The study was supported by the Chinese University of Hong Kong I-CARE Program (Research Project No. R14-11). We wish to thank Chun Yam Chau and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong for their support in this study; Harold T. Y. Chui and Michael S. Boroughs for their feedback on the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Society for Community Research and Action
PY - 2015/3
Y1 - 2015/3
N2 - Social media are found to facilitate social information exchange among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals who are subjected to social stigma. This study tested the protective role of LGB-tailored social media uses and gratifications in promoting LGB group membership, which we hypothesized to reduce LGB stigma and enhance mental health among LGB individuals in Hong Kong. Based on a sample of 233 Chinese LGB individuals in Hong Kong, structural equation modeling showed evidence for our hypotheses, χ(df=62) 2 = 88.20, GFI = 0.95, CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.04. Community surveillance, identity expression, and emotional support on social media may promote mental health by instilling a sense of group membership and reducing stigma. Social media may build camaraderie and bolster resilience among LGB individuals that may otherwise be difficult in conservative regions.
AB - Social media are found to facilitate social information exchange among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals who are subjected to social stigma. This study tested the protective role of LGB-tailored social media uses and gratifications in promoting LGB group membership, which we hypothesized to reduce LGB stigma and enhance mental health among LGB individuals in Hong Kong. Based on a sample of 233 Chinese LGB individuals in Hong Kong, structural equation modeling showed evidence for our hypotheses, χ(df=62) 2 = 88.20, GFI = 0.95, CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.04. Community surveillance, identity expression, and emotional support on social media may promote mental health by instilling a sense of group membership and reducing stigma. Social media may build camaraderie and bolster resilience among LGB individuals that may otherwise be difficult in conservative regions.
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Lesbian/gay/bisexual individuals
KW - Social media
KW - Stigma
KW - Structural equation modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922294224&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10464-014-9699-2
DO - 10.1007/s10464-014-9699-2
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25576016
AN - SCOPUS:84922294224
SN - 0091-0562
VL - 55
SP - 228
EP - 238
JO - American Journal of Community Psychology
JF - American Journal of Community Psychology
IS - 1-2
ER -
