Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Research Publications
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ItemSocial media use and health and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth: A systematic review (Preprint)( 2022-04-02)Background: LGBTQ individuals are at higher risk of poor mental health and wellbeing. Social media platforms can provide LGBTQ youth a space which counters heteronormative environments and potentially supports mental health and wellbeing. Objective: In this systematic review, we sought to assess the relationship between social media use and mental health and wellbeing in LGBTQ youth. Methods: Searches were conducted in ACM Digital Library, CINAHL, OVID Embase, OVID Medline, and Web of Science. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quantitative articles and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative articles. Qualitative synthesis was performed on articles that satisfied eligibility and inclusion criteria. Results: Twenty-six articles (15 qualitative, 8 quantitative, and 3 mixed methods) met the inclusion criteria. Social media is a popular tool commonly used by LGBTQ youth to connect with LGBTQ communities. LGBTQ youth also negotiated and explored identity and obtained support from peers on social media. Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter were commonly used to access LGBTQ content due to ease of anonymity. Identity management was important for LGBTQ youth with social media allowing strategic disclosure. Key strategies for managing identities included being anonymous, censoring locations/content, restricting audiences, and using multiple accounts. Quantitative studies showed that social media was associated with reduced mental health concerns and increased wellbeing for LGBTQ youth. Mental health concerns arising from social media use were attributed to policies that did not accommodate for changed identities. Conclusions: We found that social media may support mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth through peer connection, identity management, and social support but findings were limited by weaknesses in the evidence. More robust studies are needed to determine the relationship between social media use and LGBTQ mental health, particularly among adolescents. This may inform interventions to promote social media health literacy and the mental health and wellbeing of this vulnerable group.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableExposure to Pornography and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Systematic Review (Preprint)( 2022-09-30)Formative experiences in adolescence lay the foundation for healthy and pleasurable romantic and sexual relationships throughout life. Exposure to pornography may impact these experiences. We aimed to synthesize evidence published in the past decade for relationships between exposure to pornography and sexual behavior (earlier age of first sex (<16), condomless sex, past-year multiple partners (>1), lifetime multiple partners (>1), group sex, sexual aggression including forced sex, paid sex, teenage pregnancy, and history of sexually transmitted infection) in adolescents aged 10-19. Searching Medline, PsycInfo, Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science from January 2010 to March 2022, we identified nineteen eligible studies. Four out of six studies of earlier age of first sex, including one longitudinal study, found a significant association with exposure to pornography. Given most studies were cross-sectional or had substantial limitations, a causal inference could not be made. Evidence was conflicting or insufficient to make any conclusions for other outcomes. Exposure to pornography was not measured consistently. More quantitative research is needed to elucidate the association between pornography exposure and sexual behavior, and sex education should adopt evidence-based approaches to minimize potential harms of pornography.