IDENTITY FORMATION AND WELL-BEING IN LGBT COMMUNITY BANDS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationships exist, if any, between psychological well-being, psychosocial well-being, internalized homonegativity (IH), and LGBT community band participation, as well as to holistically investigate these constructs, with identity formation, through participant experiences. Participant responses to survey data (N = 100) were analyzed via Pearson correlation. Significant relationships emerged between psychological and psychosocial well-being (r2 = .12), as well as between psychological well-being and IH (r2 = .05) at both the p < .01 and p < .05 levels, respectively. No significant relationships were found between any of the constructs with years of participation, or between psychosocial well-being and IH. Following survey data collection, interviews of select participants (N = 10) revealed five unique findings. This study has implications in developing methods for supporting the general well-being and identity development of LGBT students via music curriculum/community visibility and adaption.