First comprehensive study of young LGBTIQA+ Australians finds Gen Z experiences identity development earlier and quicker
Credit: Amparo Garcia from Getty Images
Young LGBTIQA+ Australians are experiencing sexual identity development earlier and quicker than previous generations, new research from Monash University shows.
The first comprehensive study of queer, Generation Z Australians found the cohort places less weight on the milestones other generations deemed essential for identity development, like romantic relationships, or engaging in sexual activity for the first time.
In fact, almost half of participants in the survey recognised their sexual identity without having been in a relationship or engaging in sexual activity.
The study explored the experiences of almost 500 young Australians aged 16 to 26 who identify as LGBTIQA+, identifying four patterns for periods of sexual identity development based on the sequencing and age of significant developmental events across Early Adolescence, Middle Adolescence, Late Adolescence and Adulthood.
It has been led by researchers from Monash School of Psychological Sciences and Monash School of Educational Psychology & Counselling and published in the academic journal Psychological Science.
Lead researcher, Monash PhD candidate William Warton from Monash School of Psychological Sciences, said the findings emphasise the need for adaptive frameworks for understanding identity development in diverse LGBTIQA+ individuals.
“Gen Z is a really interesting generation because they have grown up entirely on the internet, where they have benefitted from spaces to explore their gender and sexual identity and form communities,” he said.
“Previous generations experienced these milestones over decades, but the identity development journey for young people today is usually compressed into their high school years.
“Gen Z are resisting cultural norms, social trajectories and gender binaries compared to older generations.”
Almost all participants had disclosed their sexual identity to someone else, which, for about one in four, was an immediate family member.
Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Beth Johnson, from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health in the Monash School of Psychological Sciences, said the trend was reflective of increasing queer visibility and acceptance in society.
“But this earlier and quicker identity development trajectory also exposes younger people to minority stressors at earlier developmental stages, which may affect their mental health,” they said.
“As our understanding of this generation’s experiences and needs progresses so much, the support systems we put in place to help manage these stresses also need to adapt.
“For this generation, the key will be in having tailored support that reflects their experiences are not as uniform or linear as past generations.”
Educational and developmental psychologist and Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen, from Monash School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, said ensuring young people feel they belong can help them as they navigate identity.
“Our job as adults is to make sure they feel they belong at school while they navigate identity,” she said.
“It seems that many adults are debating gender identity, but Gen Z are mapping who they are earlier and faster, often without a first relationship or first sexual experience.
“Our systems need to keep up with that reality.”
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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