The Role of Social Connectedness in the Resilience of LGBTQ+ Individuals

Abstract

Social connectedness is considered as a significant source of resilience for all individuals. Previous researches have shown that experiencing a higher level of connectedness and belonging can help people reach out more and adopt functional and adaptive ways of coping thereby enhancing their resilience. The objectives of the study were as follows: a) to explore the relationship between social connectedness and resilience among LGBTQ+ individuals in India; b) and to investigate the role of social connectedness on the resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals in India. A correlational study design was used where 160 LGBTQ+ Individuals (aged between 16 years-53 years) completed measures of social Connectedness and resilience. Pearson’s correlation revealed a significant positive relationship between social connectedness and resilience in the sample. This indicates that when social connectedness is high, resilience is also high. Social connectedness explained significant proportion of variance in resilience for the entire sample. The study implications are discussed.