The within-group differences in LGBQ+ college students’ belongingness, institutional commitment, and outness.

Abstract

Although scholars have examined how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ +) students perceive their collegiate environments, few quantitative studies disaggregate data to see how populations within the LGBQ + community experience certain outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate how student subgroups within the LGBQ + community differed in their perceptions of belongingness, institutional commitment, and outness. Using large-scale, multi-institution data from thousands of first-year and senior undergraduates, we examined how these important affective outcomes differ by sexuality groups (e.g., gay/lesbian, bisexual, or queer) and when the intersections of sexual and racial/ethnic identities are considered. Findings suggest that within-group differences exist in LGBQ + student populations that are not necessarily visible when understanding these communities in monolithic ways. We then offer implications for research and student affairs practitioners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)