Citation

Creighton GM, Oliffe JL, Broom A, Rossnagel E, Ferlatte O, Darroch F. Qual. Health Res. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1049732319843502.

Affiliation

The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1049732319843502

PMID

31030661

Abstract

While a significant health concern for sexual minority women, there is little qualitative research investigating their experiences of childhood trauma and suicidality. In this study, we used photovoice methods and an intersectionality framework. Drawing on qualitative interviews, we inductively derived three themes (a) Traumatized and discredited, (b) Cascading marginality, estrangement, and suicidality, (c) Reconstruction and reclaiming resilience. In Traumatized and discredited, we describe the sense of abandonment flowing from childhood trauma heightened by a lack of protection and neglect on the part of parents/guardians. The lack of support to deal with childhood trauma and the layering effects of marginality characterizes the theme Cascading marginality, estrangement, and suicidality. In the third theme, we discuss strategies for reconstruction and reclaiming resilience as participants worked to overcome these challenging experiences. Our study findings offer guidance to suicide prevention counseling programs for sexual minority women and affirm actions to address health inequities.

Language: en

Keywords

Canada; bisexuals; gays and lesbians; mental health and illness; photography; photovoice; qualitative; qualitative methods; suicide; trauma; women’s health