International and interdisciplinary research on how sexual and gender diverse youth use digital technologies to support their wellbeing.
The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience (INQYR) is the first research partnership in the world to study how sexual and gender diverse youth (SGDY) in Canada, the USA, Mexico, the UK, and Australia use digital technologies (e.g., social media, apps, video games) to support their wellbeing. Our partnership offers unique international and interdisciplinary expertise on digital technology use as it relates to how SGDY: (a) cope with stressors, including homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia; (b) explore and develop their SGD and emerging adult identities; and (c) connect with supportive and affirming online communities. INQYR centralizes expertise from around the world in digitally engaged arts- and community-based research methods, such as digital photo elicitation, social media vignettes, screenshot elicitation, and participatory action research, which are highly effective in attracting participation from hard-to-reach SGDY.
The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience (INQYR) is training the next generation of SGD emerging scholars through its International Student Training Network (ISTN), an innovative two-year bilingual (English and Spanish) blended learning program delivered internationally and focusing on five core competencies: (a) culturally competent research with SGDY; (b) technology-enabled methodologies; (c) mixed-methods data management and analyses; (d) interdisciplinary research; and (e) knowledge mobilization. Students graduate from the program every two years, with each demonstrating research competency and career development. All eligible graduate students are encouraged to apply on the website when applications are open.
INQYR’s research is supported by its International Youth Advisory Board (IYAB). Composed of SGDY aged 14-21 from Canada, the USA, and Mexico; the IYAB provide valuable insight into the needs of LGBTQ+ youth locally, ensuring that INQYR’s research remains youth-focused and culturally relevant. Research partners can receive feedback on study materials (e.g., recruitment flyers, data collection tools, dissemination pieces) to strengthen their research approaches.
IYAB members also participate in skill- and confidence-building workshops (e.g., CV writing) to build youth capacity. IYABs complete one-year board terms. All eligible youth are encouraged to apply on the website when applications are open.
- Education
- Healthcare and social services
- Information and communication technologies and media
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Qualtrics | Software program to design, distribute and collect surveys and survey data. |
| IBM SPSS Statistics 27 | Statistics software to conduct quantitative research, in particular data analysis. |
| NVivo 14 | Qualitative data management and analysis software capable of supporting analysis of multiple data modalities (e.g., text, images, videos). |
| Canva Pro | Online and cloud-based art and design software for casual users to create youth-focused knowledge mobilization products. |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | Online and cloud-based art and design software for experienced users to create youth-focused knowledge mobilization products. |
| Collaborative research space | Meeting space for interviews and focus groups to be conducted privately. |
| Computer tablets (10) | Available to research assistants, graduate students, and collaborators for portable data collection. |
Private and public sector research partners
- University of Toronto
- Brock University
- McGill University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- Planned Parenthood Toronto
- The Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples
- National Pedagogic University (Mexico)
- National Autonomous University of Mexico
- Actua DF (Mexico)
- Nottingham Trent University (England)
- De Montfort University (England)
- Goldsmiths, University of London (England)
- King’s College London (England)
- University of Birmingham (England)
- LGBT Consortium England)
- Austin Peay State University (USA)
- Barry University (USA)
- Florida International University (USA)
- Loyola University (USA)
- Northwestern University (USA)
- Rutgers University (USA)
- The Ohio State University (USA)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln (USA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (USA)
- Washington University in St. Louis (USA)
- Yale University (USA)
- University at Albany (USA)
- The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity (USA)
- Telethon Kids Institute (Australia)
- University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
- La Trobe University (Australia)
- Western Sydney University (Australia)
- The University of Sydney (Australia)
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Building bridges and breaking down silos: A framework for developing interdisciplinary, international academic-community research collaborations for the benefit of sexual and gender minority youth. | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19419899.2022.2043421 |
| Promoting community and competence: The development and evaluation of an international research training network of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) emerging scholars. | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07294360.2023.2269889 |
| The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. | https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/about-us/inqyr/ |
| A new normal for LGBTQ+ youth: Researcher Shelley L. Craig has spent decades advocating for LGBTQ+ youth. Her research shows how social media is a lifeline to those growing up queer. (CFI story) | https://www.innovation.ca/projects-results/research-stories/new-normal-lgbtq-youth |